After multiple athletes reported issues with damaged medals, Milan Cortina Olympic organizers confirmed Italy’s national mint will repair any faulty medal fixings for athletes at the 2026 Games.

Olympic organizing committee spokesman Luca Casassa said a “targeted intervention” was agreed to with the producer of the medals, Rome’s Zecca dello Stato (state mint), to resolve the problems, which reportedly involve ribbons and clasps, not the medal designs themselves.

“Athletes who have medals with problems are invited to give them back through the appropriate channels so that they can be immediately repaired,” Casassa said.

American skier Breezy Johnson displayed a cracked and chipped gold medal after her win in the women’s downhill Sunday. “I was jumping up and down in excitement, then it just fell off,” Johnson told reporters Sunday. “Don’t jump in them. … I’m sure somebody will fix it. It’s not crazy broken, but a little broken.”

German biathlete Justus Strelow also had his medal fall off his neck as he was celebrating a mixed relay bronze win with his teammates. Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson also reportedly saw damage on her silver medal from the women’s skiathlon.

Andrea Francisi, the chief games operations officer for the Milan Cortina organizing committee, had responded to the damaged medal reports Monday promising a swift resolution.

“… Obviously we are paying maximum attention to this matter, as the medal is the dream of the athletes, so we want that obviously in the moment they are given it that everything is absolutely perfect, because we really consider it to be the most important moment,” Francisi said Monday.

–Field Level Media

LIVIGNO, Italy — American freestyle skier Elizabeth Lemley won a surprise gold medal in moguls with two neat and quick runs at the Winter Games on Wednesday.

Her victory put an end to 2022 champion Jakara Anthony’s bid to become the first Australian to successfully defend a title at a Winter Games.

Anthony, who has dominated the discipline for the last four years, led from silver medalist American Jaelin Kauf after the first run but wobbled out of line on her second to finish eighth and last.

Kauf, who also finished second in Beijing four years ago, won her second silver with a score of 80.77, and Pyeongchang 2018 champion France’s Perrine Laffont clinched bronze with 78 points.

In her first run of the finals, under a bright and sunny afternoon sky in the narrow valley of Livigno, Lemley was in firm control of her skis, always pinned one to the other, and landed well after two big jumps.

In the second run — also known as the superfinal — the skier pushed on the speed, keeping her skis tight together and showing off great technique around the moguls and with a big grab on the bottom jump.

“I was trying to focus on trusting myself. I’ve been working on that this whole season … and right when I pushed out of the gate, I said to myself, ‘Let’s go!'” Lemley told a press conference after the medal ceremony.

Like other athletes at the Winter Games, Lemley’s medal fell apart as she was celebrating on the top of the podium just after she received it from Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman, who would have been hoping for a different outcome.

Anthony had a first fast, clean run for the finals, with smooth turns and a big grab on the bottom jump, but in the second she lost control in the middle section of the moguls, leaving her fall line, the straightest path down the hill.

Her 83.96 score on the first run would have been enough for gold had she reproduced it in the second, but only the final score counts and Lemley’s 82.30 secured the American her first global title.

Kauf, who got through to the final only hours before in the second qualifying round, delivered a fast first run down the hill, with tidy skiing through the moguls and strong jumps.

In the superfinal she was strong and quick, with a big top jump, crushing through the moguls and performing a grab in the bottom air.

“I definitely didn’t take the easy route into the finals… but I think everything happens for a reason,” Kauf said.

Despite scraping through to the second final round with a stylish technique but not so clean jumps, Laffont set a very high bar in the second run, showing off great precision and performing two big jumps with grabs.

Japan’s Hinako Tomitaka also scored 78 but Laffont took the bronze as she was awarded a better score — 42.6 to 42 — for her turns in the final run.

Asked what went through her mind when she saw her score was the same as Tomitaka’s, Laffont said: “Today was a real roller coaster. It is pretty hard to remember what I was thinking.”

Anthony was disappointed but was already looking ahead.

“I’m pretty bummed, to be honest,” Anthony said. “I definitely had what it took, but it is just not my day today sadly. Maybe in another four years’ time.”

–Reuters, special to Field Level Media

At the start of this past season, the Seattle Seahawks were +6000 to win the Super Bowl. Their odds were so long in August that even the Arizona Cardinals were shorter favorites.

Seattle managed to turn things around quickly. 

But which long-shot teams could have their moment in the sun this upcoming year?

Pittsburgh Steelers (+6000)

I’ve gone on record saying the Mike Tomlin era had run its course. He still looks like a Hall of Fame coach (and if Bill Belichick isn’t one, then who is?), but sometimes both sides need a clean slate.

The AFC North had a bit of a down year, yet Pittsburgh is once again the reigning division champion.

The defense is beginning to age, but it can still be good enough — provided the offense isn’t an automatic three-and-out machine.

If the Steelers move on from Rodgers and hit on a quarterback in free agency, they could be legitimate surprise contenders. For a long shot, this feels like a team that could offer a very positive cashout opportunity by midseason.

Washington Commanders (+6000)

Does anyone remember that Washington was one game away from the Super Bowl in 2025?

The Commanders didn’t get much grace for the injury bug that plagued them last season. That could resurface — they still have one of the oldest rosters in the league — but I’m willing to bet on a Jayden Daniels resurgence.

Daniels is only one year removed from one of the best rookie seasons we’ve ever seen. Washington also has a much easier schedule this year, and adding someone like Caleb Downs in the first round could help patch up defensive issues.

If Daniels and Terry McLaurin stay healthy for a full season, I’ll keep the faith in Washington as a long shot.

Indianapolis Colts (+6000)

Halfway through last season, the Colts were 7-1 and eyeing a first-round bye. A few weeks later, Daniel Jones’ Achilles tear flipped the season upside down.

I’d like to believe the version of Indianapolis we saw in the first half wasn’t a fugazi.

Mostly, I believe in Shane Steichen as a head coach. I’m not sure if Jones will be ready immediately, so they may need to explore quarterback options in free agency — or give Anthony Richardson one last shot.

I’ll admit it: I have a slightly delusional belief in Richardson. He hasn’t shown much that would convince a rational observer he’s a long-term NFL starter, but the arm talent and athleticism are too freakish to completely give up on.

This is my least favorite of the three teams, but the Colts defense alone could be good enough to make some noise.