Clovis Native Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Gold, Breaks Medal

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Alysa Liu, a 20-year-old figure skater from Clovis, California, won an Olympic gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. However, Liu's celebratory dance caused her medal to break from its ribbon and fall to the ground, drawing attention to an investigation into defective Olympic medals.

Why it matters

Liu's Olympic gold medal win is a major accomplishment for the young skater, who has already made history as the youngest to land a triple Axel in international competition. The broken medal incident also highlighted broader issues with the quality and durability of Olympic medals.

The details

Liu, who previously lived in Clovis, California, won the Olympic gold medal as part of the figure skating team event. In a now-viral TikTok video, Liu can be heard saying 'I just got this Olympic gold medal, already broke it' after her celebratory dance caused the medal to break from its ribbon and fall to the ground. The incident helped launch an investigation into defective Olympic medals, which were found to be not uncommon.

• Alysa Liu won the Olympic gold medal on February 8, 2026.
• Liu's medal broke during her celebratory dance after the medal ceremony.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The International Olympic Committee has launched a full investigation into the defective Olympic medals and is working to ensure the issue is resolved before the next Winter Games.