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Winning an Olympic medal is the dream of many athletes.
A classic image of Olympians receiving their medals is biting them to make sure they’re real. While the medals themselves are genuine and sturdy, a recent issue has emerged.
The medals are worn around the winners’ necks, attached to a ribbon that loops through a small connector on the medal. That attachment has been prone to breaking, especially when athletes jump in celebration, forcing some to carry their medals by hand.
Here’s more on why Olympic medals have been breaking.
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Why are Olympic medals breaking?
The medals themselves aren’t breaking. Their design includes a line in the middle that looks like a crack, but it’s purely decorative. The problem comes from the small piece that attaches the ribbon to the medal, which can break off.
While the medal remains intact, recipients are often forced to carry it in their palm.
Milan-Cortina 2026 chief Games operations officer Andrea Francisci said that they are aware of the complaints. "We are fully aware of the situation. We are looking into exactly what the problem is. We are going to pay maximum attention to the medals, and obviously this is something we want to be perfect when the medal is handed over because this is one of the most important moments for the athletes."
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Olympians who have broken their medals
Breezy Johnson and Alysa Liu have both talked about their broken medals. Johnson's broke by the time she got to her post-event media press conference. She said, "So there's the medal. And there's the ribbon. And here's the little piece that is supposed to go into the ribbon to hold the medal, and yeah, it came apart."
Liu's video also lost its ribbon, but she wasn't deterred.
A video was also posted on social media of the German team who took bronze in the biathlon. During their celebration, the medal broke.
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What are Olympic medals made of?
The composition of Olympic medals varies based on the medal itself. Bronze medals are 100% copper, and silver medals are 100% silver. Gold medals are actually silver medals that are then coated in an additional six grams of pure gold.
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Are Olympic medals made of real gold?
Yes, but not fully. Gold medals actually consist of 500 grams of silver. That silver is then encased in six grams of pure gold. So yes, gold medals are comprised of real gold, but they are predominantly silver.
What are Olympic silver medals made of?
Silver medals are made of 500 grams of pure silver. They have the same base that gold medals do, but obviously without the extra six grams of pure gold.
What are Olympic bronze medals made of?
Bronze medals are 100% copper.
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How heavy is an Olympic gold medal?
An Olympic gold medal weighs 506 grams. It is 500 grams of silver that is then overlayed with six grams of pure gold. It would be literally more than one pound.
How heavy is an Olympic silver medal?
A silver medal is the exact same base as a gold medal. It weighs 500 grams, which is about 1.1 pounds.
How heavy is an Olympic bronze medal?
A bronze medal is lighter than the others. It weighs 420 grams, which is slightly less than one pound.
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Who makes the Olympic medals?
The Olympics partnered with IPZS, which is the Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute. They produce coins, passports and stamps in Italy. In 2025, it was announced that they would help produce both the Olympic and Paralympic medals.
IPZS made the medals from recycled metal generated by its own production. The President of the IPZS, Paolo Perrone, said, “The medals we have created to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games represent the mastery and excellence of Italian design. Each one is a unique piece, the result of craftsmanship and innovation."
Matteo Taglienti, a program manager for IPZS, said that "Each medal is a handcrafted project, apart from the others."
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How much are Olympic medals worth?
The price of gold and silver has been climbing, which in turn increases the value of an Olympic medal, at least the parts that make it up. Olympic gold medals are made up of 500 grams of silver and six grams of pure gold. Silver medals are 500 grams of silver, and bronze medals are solid bronze.
The "melt value" of an Olympic gold medal is roughly $2,500. A silver medal would be worth about $1500. Unfortunately for bronze medal winners, bronze medals have a value between $5 and $6 due to their being made primarily of copper.
Olympic medals due have intrinsic value, though, given what they represent. Some former Olympians have chosen to sell their medals whole, rather than melt them down. Soon after the games, CBS News reported that a typical athlete could look to sell theirs for between $50,000 and $80,000 as a collectors item.
Many Olympic medals go to auction when they are sold, which can also help drive up the price. One of Jesse Owens' 1936 gold medals sold for a whopping $1.467 million in 2013.
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