Oakland Olympian's Broken Medal Sparks Investigation

Alysa Liu's experience with a damaged Olympic medal leads to a probe of defective awards at the Winter Games.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Oakland figure skater Alysa Liu, a member of the U.S. Olympic team, posted a video showing her Olympic medal had broken off its ribbon, sparking an investigation by Milano Cortina officials into reports of defective medals at the Winter Games. Liu's experience was not isolated, as other medal-winning athletes have also reported their medals snapping or chipping during celebrations.

Why it matters

The issue with the Olympic medals raises concerns about the quality control and manufacturing process for the prestigious awards. It also highlights the disappointment and frustration felt by athletes who have worked hard to earn their medals, only to have them damaged shortly after receiving them.

The details

Liu posted a TikTok video showing her gold medal from the Team USA short program had separated from its ribbon. Other Olympians, including U.S. figure skater Ellie Kam, U.S. skier Breezy Johnson, and German biathlete Justus Strelow, have also reported similar problems with their medals breaking or chipping. Organizers acknowledged the issue and said a 'solution was identified and a targeted intervention was implemented,' though they noted the problems were not widespread.

  • On February 10, 2026, Alysa Liu posted a video on TikTok showing her Olympic medal had broken.
  • In the days following, other Olympians reported issues with their medals breaking or chipping during celebrations.

The players

Alysa Liu

A 20-year-old figure skater from Oakland, California, who won a medal as part of the U.S. Olympic team's mixed-team short program.

Ellie Kam

A U.S. figure skater and Alysa Liu's roommate in the Olympic Village.

Breezy Johnson

A U.S. Olympic downhill skier who also experienced issues with her medal breaking.

Justus Strelow

A German biathlete whose medal was shown snapping in a viral video during a celebration.

Milano Cortina

The organizers of the 2026 Winter Olympics, who launched an investigation into the reports of defective medals.

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What they’re saying

“I just got this olympic gold medal, already broke it.”

— Alysa Liu (TikTok)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Organizers have said athletes will be allowed to return their broken medals for repair.

The takeaway

The issues with the Olympic medals highlight the importance of quality control and manufacturing processes for these prestigious awards. It also underscores the disappointment felt by athletes who have worked hard to earn their medals, only to have them damaged shortly after receiving them.