Star Metro - Olympic chiefs offer repairs after medals break

Women's downhill gold medallist Breezy Johnson was among the first to encounter the problem when she showed her broken medal at her post-event media conference on Sunday.

The American skier's medal came apart from its ribbon clasp as she celebrated her win in Cortina D'Ampezzo.

US figure skater Alysa Liu, who won gold in the team event, and German biathlete Justus Strelow, who took bronze in the mixed relay, also suffered medal malfunctions.

Games operations communications director Luca Casassa told reporters at an International Olympic Committee press conference on Tuesday a solution had been found.

"A limited number of medals have a number of problems, but the organising committee has been working closely with the Italian mint, who are responsible for the medals," he said.

"A solution has been identified and athletes who have (broken) medals are invited to give them back so they can be repaired. Milano Cortina 2026 confirms our commitment that the medals will meet the highest quality of standards.

"As a precaution, we are recalling some of the medals to ensure all athletes' joy (upon winning a medal) can be '360 degrees'. This is important for them and important for us."

Johnson, who is also competing in the women's team combined event, said she had been given a new gold medal.

"Yeah, they gave me a new one. I have to get it engraved though still. So that needs to happen," she said.

Johnson added that she had to give the old one back as "they don't let you have multiple of those things".

S.Belanger--SMC