Don’t Jump in Them: Olympic Medals Shatter Celebration Dreams
‘Don’t Jump in Them’: Olympic Medals Shatter Celebration Dreams
At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, joy turned to shock as athletes' hard-earned medals broke during victory celebrations. U.S. gold medalist Breezy Johnson, fresh off her downhill triumph, watched her medal detach from its ribbon mid-jump, holding up the pieces for cameras. She quipped, “Don’t jump in them,” warning others to handle prizes with care.[1][2]
Athletes Hit by Medal Mishaps
The issue spread quickly: U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu posted a video of her loose medal, joking “My medal don't need the ribbon.” German biathlete Justus Strelow, Swedish skier Ebba Andersson, and others reported cracked clasps or chipped metal within hours. Echoing Paris 2024's tarnishing scandals, where hundreds sought replacements, these flaws mar the pinnacle of athletic achievement.[1][2][3]
Organizers Probe and Promise Fixes
Chief operations officer Andrea Francisi vowed “maximum attention,” launching a probe into design flaws with partners. Some athletes, like Johnson, received swift replacements, but delegations await broader policies. As podiums continue, officials aim to ensure medals endure the exuberance they inspire, preserving Olympic magic through February 22.[3]
About the Organizations Mentioned
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
**Milano Cortina 2026** is the organizing entity behind the 2026 Winter Olympics, a private foundation tasked with coordinating the first officially co-hosted Games by two Italian cities: Milan (ice events) and Cortina d'Ampezzo (snow events in Valtellina and Fiemme valleys).[1][2] Spanning nearly **8,500 square miles** across 13 venues—mostly existing or temporary, save a new 16,000-seat hockey arena and renovated Milan Olympic Village—the event marks Italy's third Winter Olympics after Cortina 1956 and Turin 2006.[1][2] Selected on June 24, 2019, at the IOC's 134th Session in Lausanne, the joint bid triumphed over Stockholm-Åre, leveraging Italy's Olympic legacy.[1] The foundation oversees logistics for **116 events** in 16 disciplines, debuting **ski mountaineering (skimo)** with sprint and mixed relay, plus eight new formats like women's luge doubles, men's dual moguls, and equal-distance cross-country skiing for gender parity.[2][3] Innovations include a men's super team ski jump and team combined alpine events, blending high-tech timing with sustainable venue reuse.[3] From a **business perspective**, the Games drive infrastructure upgrades, like converting the Porta Romana rail yard into 1,700 student units post-event, while tech integrations promise real-time data analytics and AR fan experiences.[2] Challenges persist: A November 2025 "Olympics rescue decree" classifying the foundation as private to evade probes into bid-rigging and corruption faces Constitutional Court review, spotlighting governance risks.[1] An Innsbruck sliding track proposal highlights cost pressures on Cortina's renovations.[1] As Games approach (February 6-21, 2026), Milano Cortina 2026 positions Italy as a winter sports innovator
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