Alysa Liu, the 20‑year‑old figure skater who helped the U.S. capture gold in the team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan‑Cortina, became an unexpected figure in a growing controversy over defective Olympic medals after her own hardware fell apart shortly after it was awarded.

Liu, who was born in Clovis and now trains near Oakland, contributed to Team USA’s triumph in the Olympic figure skating team competition, helping beat out Japan and Italy for gold.

But the celebration quickly turned to confusion when her gold medal snaps from its ribbon during a post‑victory moment, a problem that has surfaced for several competitors in the early days of the games. Videos and photos shared on social media by athletes, including Liu, showed the medals separating from their ribbons or cracking soon after the podium ceremonies.

Following complaints from Liu and others, Milano Cortina Olympic officials launched a formal investigation into the construction and durability of the medals, SF Gate reported. Organizers acknowledged reports that the clasp or breakaway mechanism designed to attach the medal to its ribbon may not be performing as intended, and they are examining whether design flaws might be to blame.

The incident isn’t isolated. Other Olympic athletes have publicly described similar issues with their medals breaking or detaching during celebrations, prompting widespread scrutiny of the medals being awarded at these Games.

Correction: The headline has been updated for clarity. 

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