Gold medal replaced after Japanese mayor's Olympic act sparks fury

Nagoya city Mayor Takashi Kawamura bites a gold medal that's not his. Photo / Twitter

Try as they might, politicians and sport don't always mix.

A Japanese gold medallist is having her piece of bling replaced after the mayor of her hometown got a little too excited when she showed off her new acquisition after a stellar performance in Tokyo.

Miu Goto, part of Japan's softball team that beat America in the final, was feted when she returned to the city of Nagoya but mayor Takashi Kawamura went too far as he took a bite of the star's gold medal.

Dropping his mask, Kawamura put the precious prize between his teeth as is customary for athletes to do. But when it's not your medal, it's a bad look, made even worse by the fact we're in the grips of a global pandemic where strict hygiene measures are in place.

To exchange the gold medal bitten by Mayor Takashi Kawamura, the cost will be borne by the IOC pic.twitter.com/85Hoixrr0k

— gongongon (@gongong57617502) August 12, 2021

Olympic officials have confirmed they'll deliver Goto a brand new medal after Kawamura's act sparked fury online, with the cost covered by the International Olympic Committee.

"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.

Japanese fencer Yuki Ota, an Olympic silver medallist, was among the critics who took aim at Kawamura.

"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," Ota wrote on Twitter.

"Sorry, I can't understand it."

The BBC reports the mayor's clumsy act resulted in Nagoya city authorities receiving more than 7000 complaints, while car giant Toyota, which sponsors Goto's local softball team the Red Terriers, called Kawamura's behaviour "inappropriate" and "extremely regrettable".

The politician later apologised, saying: "I forgot my position as Nagoya mayor and acted in an extremely inappropriate way.

"I am fully aware that I should reflect on that."