To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders
Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications
Published
We're used to seeing Olympians themselves bite down on their medals while standing at the podium or posing for photographs, certainly not other random people - and especially not politicians.
Well, it seems one high-profile bloke over in Japan just couldn't help himself and his "inappropriate" act has sparked widespread outrage.
Olympic officials have now been forced to replace a Japanese athlete's gold medal after it was bitten (yes bitten) by a local mayor.
Softball star Miu Goto was attending an event to celebrate Japan's historic victory over favourites the United States which helped secure a gold medal for the host nation at the Tokyo Games.
Unfortunately for Goto, the commemorative event turned out to be far more - well - eventful than what she was probably expecting.
Takashi Kawamura, who is the mayor for Nagoya, somehow managed to get his hands on Goto's sparkling gold medal and decided to remove his mask and wrap his mouth around it.
When images flooded social media showing Kawamura sinking his teeth into the medal, he immediately copped plenty of backlash and was forced to issue an apology.
名古屋市の河村市長が4日、東京オリンピックで活躍したソフトボールの後藤希友投手から金メダル獲得の報告を受けた際、披露されたメダルを突然、口に入れてかみ、市役所に批判の電話やメールなどが相次いでいます。https://t.co/EvgKelGPyR#nhk_video pic.twitter.com/iFMbMYpCEi
- NHKニュース (@nhk_news) August 4, 2021
The mayor of Japanese city Nagoya Takashi Kawamura earned himself internet infamy and a rare rebuke from Toyota Motor for chomping down on an Olympic gold medal at an event meant to celebrate its winner, softball pitcher Miu Goto https://t.co/pksFDOqhFU pic.twitter.com/UpqG8BYd1R
- Reuters (@Reuters) August 5, 2021
Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura must wish he could take this moment back. Gold medallist Miu Goto works for Toyota, who protested him biting the medal. Kawamura went to Toyota to apologise and was told to do so from his car, without being allowed in. pic.twitter.com/bHONM4wpBM
- Mulboyne (@Mulboyne) August 5, 2021
"I forgot my position as Nagoya mayor and acted in an extremely inappropriate way," Kawamura said while appearing on television.
"I am fully aware that I should reflect on that."
But the story didn't just end with Goto innocently cleaning her gold medal under a warm tap to rid it of any lingering germs.
Olympic officials eventually caught wind of the situation after receiving a reported 7000 complaints and reached out to Goto to issue her a brand new medal.
"With support from the International Olympic Committee and in line with her own intention, Ms Goto's medal is now set to be exchanged for a new one," organisers said in a statement.
Ironically, the Nagoya mayor chomped down on the medal while standing in front of a massive press backdrop which had a message urging Japanese citizens to continue being COVID-safe.
As you can probably imagine, social media went into meltdown after seeing the damning image.
But while the core of the outcry came from the Japanese public, a couple of big-name figures also chimed in on condemning Kawamura's gross actions.
"Apart from showing a lack of respect for athletes, he bit it even though (athletes) are putting on medals themselves or on their teammates during medal ceremonies as part of infection prevention measures," Japanese silver medallist fencer Yuki Ota tweeted.
"Sorry, I can't understand it."
Featured Image Credit: Twitter
Topics: Medal, olympics, Tokyo Olympics, Gold Medal, Australia, Japan