Bitten By The Mayor Of Nagoya, Miu Goto's Tokyo Olympic Gold Medal Has Been Replaced With A New One

Mayor of Nagota, Kawamura while biting Miu Goto's gold medal. (Screenshot of Nippon TV News 24 Japan YouTube Channel)

JAKARTA - The authorities plan to replace the gold medal belonging to the Japanese Women's National Softball Team pitcher, Miu Goto, who was bitten by the Mayor of Nagoya Takashi Kawamura last week.

Under fire from about 4,000 complaints, a source familiar with the matter quoted Kyodo News Thursday, August 12 as saying, the gold medal will be replaced with a new one.

"The International Olympic Committee, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the organizers of the Tokyo Olympics are coordinating to allow the exchange, and Miu Goto agreed to this," the source said.

Last week, Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura came under fire for removing a mask and putting a medal between his teeth to pose for a photo at an event celebrating Goto and the Japan Women's National Softball Team winning the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

During the activity on 4 August, Goto, a native of Nagoya, draped a gold medal around Kawamura's neck, while visiting Nagoya City Hall.

Kawamura's behavior immediately received criticism on social media. A number of athletes questioned the need for Goto to make a 'visit of honor'. Meanwhile, others posted the hashtag #respectathletes.

Kawamura later apologized for ignoring the COVID-19 protocol. He admits he acted on impulse, and admits his actions made the symbol of years of hard work dirty.

Infuriated by Kawamura's actions, Toyota Motor Corp., the Japanese auto giant that owns the Red Terriers softball team where Goto worked, called Kawamura's actions inappropriate and regrettable.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympics organizers warned on Twitter that athletes should not bite the medals, saying "We just want to officially confirm that #Tokyo2020 medals are not edible!" beat the United States 2-0 in the final.

This success repeated the same success in the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where at that time Japan defeated the United States with a score of 3-1.