Drunk champion hammer thrower 'pays for taxi with gold medal after night out celebrating'

A champion hammer thrower reportedly paid for a taxi home with his gold medal after getting drunk during a night out celebrating his World Athletics Championships triumph.

According to Chinese media outlet Tencent, Poland's Pawel Fajdek woke up in Beijing the morning after his winning throw of 80.88 metres only to find he no longer had his precious gong.

The worried 26-year-old, who was the youngest defending gold medallist at the Championships this year, immediately contacted police to report the loss.

Officers reportedly set about helping him retrace his steps the night before and managed to trace the taxi driver - who told them Fajdek had willingly handed his medal over in payment.

Presumably after persuasion from police, the taxi driver returned the missing medal.

[link to www.independent.co.uk]