Olympic Medals Found to Be Made of Same Material as Supermarket Trolley Token

The International Olympic Committee has launched an urgent investigation after multiple athletes reported that their 2026 Winter Games medals are cracking, flaking, and in one case, being accepted by a vending machine in the Athletes” Village.

Independent metallurgical analysis, commissioned after a bronze medallist”s award “snapped clean in half during a selfie,” has revealed the medals are composed of a zinc-nickel alloy chemically identical to the token used to unlock a trolley at Sainsbury”s.

The Evidence

Researchers at Imperial College London confirmed the findings after a series of tests:

• Scratch test: Medal scratched at the same hardness as a pound-shop keyring. Gold medal scratched at the same hardness as a slightly nicer pound-shop keyring.
• Weight test: Each medal weighs exactly 1g more than a Tesco Clubcard, which scientists describe as “not a coincidence and also not enough.”
• Vending test: A silver medal was successfully used to purchase a Fanta from a machine in Cortina d”Ampezzo. The machine gave 30 cents change.

“I’m sure somebody will fix it. In the meantime, I got a Fanta, so it’s not all bad.” — Silver medallist, Alpine skiing

The IOC Response

A spokesperson for the IOC described the situation as “a manufacturing anomaly” and insisted the medals are “symbolic of excellence and not intended for transactional use,” a clarification that became necessary after a Norwegian cross-country skier attempted to pay for her airport parking with a gold medal and was only £2.40 short.

The committee has offered affected athletes a choice of replacement medal or a £25 gift voucher for the Olympic Superstore, where a replica medal costs £27.50.

The Athletes React

Most athletes have taken the news in good spirits. One biathlete was seen using her bronze medal as a bottle opener, which she described as “honestly more useful.” A figure skater reported that her gold medal had turned her neck green, “which at least matches my leotard.”

Your correspondent tested a commemorative medal purchased from the gift shop. It unlocked a trolley at Lidl. Make of that what you will.