Why Alysa Liu Had to Return Her Damaged Olympic Gold Medal

When an Olympic champion accidentally damages their gold medal minutes after winning it, most of us assume it’s a keepsake they get to keep. For Alysa Liu, that assumption turned out to be wrong: the 2026 Winter Olympics gold medal she earned in Milano detached from its ribbon during a celebration fall, and officials required her to exchange it for a new one.

Alysa Liu total Olympic gold medals: 2 (2026 Milano) ·
Value of Olympic gold medal (estimated): $1,000+ in gold content ·
Year of medal damage incident: 2026 ·
Number of past Olympic gold medal returns due to manufacturing defect: at least 1 (Liu)

Here are the key details of the incident at a glance.

Why did Alysa Liu have to return her gold medal?

The moment the medal was damaged

After earning gold in the figure skating competition at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Alysa Liu celebrated by jumping and waving her medal. According to NBC Bay Area, during that moment the medal detached from its ribbon, fell to the ice and was dented. Liu later described the incident lightheartedly, saying the medal falling off the ribbon made it look like she was “detached” (YouTube / NBC News clip).

The damage was not isolated. NPR reported that multiple athletes at the 2026 Games experienced medal defects including detachment, dents, chips, and at least one medal breaking in half. Milano Cortina organizers publicly acknowledged the issues and said a solution had been found (NPR).

Replacement protocol by Olympic officials

Liu reportedly wanted to keep the broken medal as a memento of her victory. However, according to a NBC News clip, officials required her to return it before receiving a replacement. The organizing committee’s chief games operations officer said officials had seen images and were trying to understand whether there was a systemic problem (NBC Bay Area).

The USOPC (governing body for Olympic sports in the U.S.) maintains a formal medal replacement process: only the Olympian can request a replacement via a signed letter describing the circumstances. The IOC then decides whether a replacement is authorized.

The implication is that athletes face a stark trade-off between a flawed memory and a pristine replacement, a dilemma that remains unresolved.

How much is an Olympic gold medal worth today?

Gold content and real market value

Olympic gold medals are not solid gold. By IOC standards, they must contain at least 6 grams of gold. The remainder is silver, making the material worth roughly $800–$1,000 as of early 2026 (gold spot around $2,000/oz, silver around $25/oz). The sentimental value, of course, is incalculable to the athletes who earn them.

Historical value of Olympic gold medals

The 2026 medal was designed by Milano Cortina’s committee with a distinctive breakaway ribbon meant to reduce choking risk — a safety feature that may have contributed to the detachment issue, as reported by Dallas Express. A specialist explanation published by OPB / NPR said shrinkage in cast metals can make a clip opening slightly too large, preventing secure attachment.

The implication: The breakaway mechanism designed for safety created an engineering flaw. Athletes who kept their original medals were left with dents they couldn’t repair.

What is on Alysa Liu’s front teeth?

Teeth decoration or orthodontic device?

Alysa Liu has been photographed with braces or clear aligners on her teeth during competitions and interviews. No permanent dental decoration (such as a gem or grill) has been confirmed in any credible source. The question arises from fan curiosity about her appearance, but the only verified detail is orthodontic treatment — common for many athletes her age.

Alysa Liu’s known personal style

Liu is known for a natural, understated style off the ice, often wearing minimal makeup and simple outfits in public appearances. No evidence supports any permanent dental modification.

What ice skater is pansexual?

Amber Glenn’s public identification

Amber Glenn, a fellow U.S. figure skater and Olympic gold medalist (team event, 2026), has publicly identified as pansexual. In interviews, Glenn has spoken about her attraction regardless of gender, becoming one of the most prominent openly LGBTQ+ athletes in the sport.

Other openly LGBTQ+ figure skaters

Several other figure skaters have come out, including Brian Boitano (gay, post-career), Adam Rippon (gay), and Timothy LeDuc (non-binary, gay). Glenn’s identification as pansexual is distinct and has been covered by major outlets like NBC Sports.

How much does Alysa Liu make?

Prize money from Olympic medals

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee awards $37,500 per gold medal to its athletes. Liu won gold in the team event and an individual gold (two total), so she earned $75,000 in direct prize money from the USOPC. This is standard across all U.S. Olympic medalists (USOPC guidelines).

Endorsement earnings and sponsorships

Liu’s endorsement deals, including sponsorships from sportswear brands and local sponsors, are estimated in the low six figures annually, though exact figures are private. After her Olympic success, her market value is expected to rise significantly.

The pattern is clear: the financial rewards of an Olympic gold are substantial, but the emotional cost of losing a flawed original is a price no athlete anticipates paying.

Timeline: From gold to broken to replaced

• February 2026: Alysa Liu wins Olympic gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games.
• Immediately after ceremony: Medal falls and is dented during celebration (NBC Bay Area).
• February 25–26, 2026: Reports emerge of forced medal exchange (NPR).
• Late February 2026: Liu receives a new medal; original is retained by organizers.

The sequence shows the rapid replacement process, but the original medal remains out of Liu’s hands—a permanent separation from the artifact of her greatest moment.

“I wanted to keep it — it’s my first Olympic gold. But they said I had to give it back.”

— Alysa Liu, via NBC News clip

“Our priority is ensuring every athlete receives a medal that meets the highest quality standards. We are examining all medals as a precaution.”

— Milano Cortina spokesperson, via NPR

For Liu, the episode is a footnote in an otherwise brilliant Olympic debut. But the broader pattern — faulty medals, a rigid replacement policy, and athletes left with only a story — raises a question the IOC may need to address before the next Games. For Olympic officials, the trade-off is clear: enforce uniform quality controls, even if it means stripping a champion of a piece of history.

Alysa Liu’s decision to return her gold medal was widely reported, and the story behind her damaged medal offers a closer look at the incident.

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