Alysa Liu Forced To Return Broken Gold Medal At Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
US figure skating champion received replacement medal after ribbon snapped during Milano Cortina 2026 celebrations
American figure skater Alysa Liu was forced to return one of her two gold medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after it detached from its ribbon during celebrations in Italy. The 20-year-old handed back the damaged medal under Games protocol and later received a replacement.
Liu had won gold in both the team event and the women’s singles competition in Milan, becoming the first American woman in 24 years to secure the Olympic singles title. The medal mishap occurred shortly after the team podium ceremony.
Alysa Liu Medal Mishap: What Happened In Milan?
According to TalkSports, The Mirror and The Sun, Liu’s team gold medal fell from its ribbon as she celebrated by jumping up and down.
“I was just jumping up and down,” Liu said, adding that it “literally fell off the ribbon.” She reportedly told reporters she wanted to keep the scratched medal but was “not allowed,” as cited by The Sun.
Reuters reported that organisers replaced the damaged medal. There was no sporting penalty and the team result stood.
Historic Women’s Singles Gold Ends 24-Year Wait For Team USA
Beyond the medal incident, Liu’s performance on the ice was one of the defining results of Milano Cortina 2026.
She delivered her free skate on 19 February, scoring 150.20 for a total of 226.79 to move from third place after the short programme to first overall. She overtook Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto to claim gold.
The victory made Liu the first American woman to win Olympic singles gold since Sarah Hughes at Salt Lake City 2002.
Earlier in the Games, the United States secured team gold with contributions across disciplines, including men’s singles skater Ilia Malinin, who recovered from a mid-programme error,
Organisers Investigate Olympic Medal Defects
Liu was not the only athlete affected by a medal issue during the Games.
American downhill skier Breezy Johnson also broke her gold medal ribbon shortly after winning the women’s downhill. The medal detached during a broadcast interview as she celebrated.
Andrea Francisi, chief Games operations officer for Milano Cortina 2026, confirmed organisers were investigating the incidents. Athletes who damaged medals were not found to have breached any competition rules.
Alysa Liu’s Comeback From Beijing 2022 To Olympic Champion
Liu had stepped away from competitive skating after finishing sixth at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. She later returned to elite competition ahead of the 2026 Games.
Her two gold medals in Milan including the historic women’s singles title capped her return to the sport and are officially recorded despite the early medal defect.
Liu has since received her replacement medal and retains two recognised Olympic golds from Milano Cortina 2026.
