A Japanese Mayor Apologized For Biting An Athlete’s Gold Medal

TOKYO — After Japan defeated the United States in the final, a Japanese mayor apologized for biting the Olympic gold medal of a softball player who had made a courtesy visit.

During the Aug. 4 visit, Nagoya mayor Takashi Kawamura lauded pitcher Miu Goto, but his gaze was fixed on her medal. He requested that she wear it around his neck. After that, Kawamura drew down his face mask and bit into it.

Kawamura apologized to the media on Thursday for injuring the gold medalist’s prize.

The mayor said the medal was unharmed, but he offered to cover the cost of a replacement.

According to Japanese media sources, Goto has accepted the International Olympic Committee’s offer of a replacement.

The medal bite has become a standard part of Olympic photo opportunities — but only for the victors.

Thousands of complaints were filed with the city hall when the incident was shown on television. Some Olympians thought it was absurd for Kawamura to bite one of his medals because they are prized possessions.

In a tweet, Naohisa Takato, a gold medalist in judo for Japan, stated, “I would cry if that happened to me.” “I try not to scratch my own gold medal when I hold it.”

A silver medalist fencer, Yuki Ota, claimed the mayor’s actions were insulting to athletes and a terrible concept for COVID-19 measures.

Goto was said to have contemplated preserving the original but finally accepted the IOC’s replacement offer.