After a successful performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, where 20-year-old Alice Liu won gold in both the team event and the singles competition, an unexpected incident occurred. During the celebration of her victory, the medal detached from its ribbon and fell onto a hard surface, sustaining significant scratches.
The figure skater noted that in a moment of joy, she jumped, and the medal's attachment could not withstand the load. Despite the fact that this medal holds special value for Liu, she decided to take the opportunity to obtain a duplicate. According to the athlete, the regulations do not require the return of damaged awards, and organizers usually accommodate athletes regarding the replacement of defective medals.
At the current Olympics, Liu demonstrated outstanding skills, representing Team USA alongside Ilia Malinin in the team event. In the individual competition, she scored over 226 points, surpassing strong competitors, including Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto.
Such cases are not exceptions in world sports. In the past, athletes from various countries have faced similar situations where medals could not withstand the emotions of the winners. It should be emphasized that the replacement of the award is purely technical and does not affect the official results of the competitions.
