The International Olympic Committee has accepted Brazil’s request for a new medal for judoka Felipe Kitadai, after he broke the bronze he won in the under 60 kg category at the London Olympics.
“The new medal is already in the possession of the local organizing committee,” Claudio Mota, a spokesman for the Brazilian Olympic Committee, told DPA on Monday.
Mota said Kitadai broke the medal while in the shower of his room at the Olympic Village. Kitadai, 25, was apparently so excited about making it to the podium at the Games on Saturday that he did not want to let go of his medal, even if just for a few minutes.
“He took it into the shower, and in order to prevent it from getting wet he kept it between his teeth. But the medal fell onto the floor and broke. It was his fault,” Mota said.
