Winter Olympics officials find fix for medal defects, repairs offered
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Paula Moltzan and Jacqueline Wiles of the US posing with their bronze medals for the women’s team combined on Feb 10. Wiles became the latest competitor to suffer a medal mishap.
PHOTO: EPA
- Milano Cortina Olympic organisers found a fix for medals coming apart; athletes can return damaged ones for repair.
- The problem likely involves the medal's clasp and ribbon's safety breakaway mechanism. US skier Jacqueline Wiles reported a clasp issue.
- Milano Cortina 2026 ensures high quality. Despite this, organisers are very pleased with overall Games operations and athlete feedback.
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MILAN - A fix has been found to stop Milano Cortina Olympic medals from coming apart, and athletes will be able to return any damaged ones for repair, local organisers said on Feb 10.
The problems with the cherished medals have been one of the talking points of the opening days of competition at a Games that have otherwise run smoothly.
Local organisers investigated the medals mishaps with the Italian State Mint, which is responsible for producing them.
“A solution was identified and a targeted intervention was implemented,” Milano Cortina 2026 communications director Luca Casassa said, adding that only a limited number of medals had suffered defects.
Athletes whose medals were affected could return them “so that they can be promptly repaired,” he added.
“Milano Cortina 2026 confirms its commitment to ensuring that the medals, which symbolise the highest achievement in every athlete’s career, meet the highest standards of quality and attention to detail.”
Clasp problem
Organisers did not specify what the problem was. However, a source close to the situation had suggested on Feb 9 that the issue may stem from the medal’s clasp and ribbon, which is fitted with a breakaway mechanism required by law to avoid the risk of strangulation or other injury.
That tallied with the experience of US Alpine skier Jacqueline Wiles, who won a bronze in the women’s team combined on Feb 10 and became the latest competitor to suffer a medal mishap.
Wiles said some boisterous celebrations were to blame.
“Some arms were swinging and I was jumping. And it got out of hand a little quickly. But that’s OK. They fixed it already,” she said.
A spokesperson for her team said the problem was with the clasp on her medal and she had been given a replacement.
Local organisers were very pleased with operations at the Games, spread over a wide area of northern Italy from Milan to a series of venues in the Alps.
“What we have found in these first four days is really encouraging, the stadiums and the competitions are often sold out, fan zones are full of people who are in a party mood and want to enjoy the Games’ atmosphere,” Mr Casassa said.
“The feedback that we are getting from the real protagonists, the athletes, at the moment is extremely positive,” he added. REUTERS
