One can only think how much professional figure skating blades cost, estimated at over one thousand dollars per pair. But more than the cost, at an elite competition like the Milan Winter Olympics, maintaining their condition is a priority. Even the slightest damage to them can place skaters who perform ultra precise moves at a disadvantage. Thus, the Japanese figure skating team weren’t willing to take any chances, going as far as filing a complaint.

As per figure skating analyst, Jackie Wong’s post on X, Team Japan lodged an official complaint over the surface of the podiums at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Wondering why?

On Sunday, after the figure skating team event ended, Team USA took the top stop on the podium to retain their Olympic title with 69 points, while Team Japan followed in with a silver.  However, the controversy unfolded when the teams actually stepped on the podium to accept the medal.

Apparently, the material of the podium surface was messing with their blades, causing them to chip. 

Jackie Wong reported on his podcast that a skater from Team Italy appeared to be touching the surface to feel the material before getting on it, because it did not seem good for the blades.

Team Japan official Yosuke Takeuchi later said the podium felt like “a rough, asphalt-like substance made of cut stone,” which chipped skaters’ blades, per the Japan Times.

But Japan has now raised the issue officially as Takeuchi details what could follow next.

He explained that the surface caused significant damage to team’s skates. “Repairs to the chipped blades were carried out this morning at a specialist workshop,” he said in a statement, adding that skaters from all three Winter Olympics’ medal-winning teams were affected.

“We will continue to take necessary action regarding this matter,” he assured.

Well, with the men’s short program lined up for Tuesday, these last-minute damages to the skate aren’t a good sign.  Even the home team was dissatisfied with the podium after this issue.

Marco Fabbri of Team Italy said, “We didn’t realise once we were on the podium that there was something weird about the surface of the podium. There were some small stones, almost. We couldn’t feel it on the podium.”

“But then, as soon as we stepped down (onto the ice) everyone was like, ‘I cannot move anymore, I cannot slide anymore.’ It was the same feeling as having some glue under the blade. And so today we had to sharpen the blade. So it was a little bit stressful.”

After all, skates are equipment that need high protection such as a layer of rubber before you step on them anywhere. However, even using them on rubber for long can dull them, necessitating the need of last-minute sharpening. 

As for the Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee, this is another blow to their reputation. However, even this time, the Committee tried to make some reparations after this complaint. 

Milan Winter Olympics Organizing Committee instantly apologized

Recently, a series of issues regarding poor preparations have been highlighted at the Winter Olympics. Some athletes have reported breaking of medals, which the committee was prompt to accept and investigate into. A few were even unhappy with the quality of ice. There have news of virus outbreaks at the Games too.

Naturally, the news about the damage to the skates broke out quick and reached the organizers, who were quick to open up another investigation into the matter.

“During the Figure Skating Team Event medal ceremony, the anti-slip surface of the podium caused some damage to the athletes’ skates. Milano Cortina 2026 is taking steps to replace the surface to prevent a recurrence,” the committee said in an official statement.

The committee further promised a skate-sharpening service and offered an additional training session to the impacted National Olympic Committees to repair the damage, in agreement with ISU (International Skating Union).

Hopefully, there is quick resolution of the issue and this marks the end of all lapses at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.