China=92s Gold Medals Found to Have High Lead Content
Phelps Warned Not to Lick Medals
China's impressive haul of gold medals at the Beijing Olympics was
tarnished somewhat today when it was revealed that "abnormally high
levels of lead" were found in the first-place medallions.
The medals, which were supposed to be made entirely of gold, were
instead found to be composed of 99% lead alloy and coated with a gold-
colored lead-based paint.
The shocking revelations roiled the Olympic complex today and sent
officials looking for answers from the Chinese manufacturer of the
medals, the Wuhan One Hundred Percent Gold Medal Cor****ation.
"We are trying to determine how exactly so much lead got into those
gold medals," said a spokesman for Wuhan, China's largest ex****ter of
gold medals. "Until we do, we are urging all first-place athletes not
to lick, taste or suck on their medals."
The news about the potentially toxic gold medals spread panic among
Olympic champions, especially U.S. swimming phenom Michael Phelps.
"I am very, very concerned about my extensive contact with gold
medals," Mr. Phelps told re****ters. "But what am I supposed to do?
Stop being so awesome?"
In other Olympic news, China's hopes for winning more medals in
women's gymnastics were dashed when one of their leading gymnasts
vanished down a bathtub drain on Tuesday.
Immediately after Jiang Qimin's disappearance, Beijing authorities
launched a search for the acclaimed seven-pound athlete.
Jiang had been the subject of speculation earlier this week as many
foreign observers doubted China's claims that the two-foot-tall
gymnast was sixteen years old.
In an interview with NBC's Bob Costas on Monday, Jiang sparked
controversy with this response to a question about her age: "I want my
sippy cup."
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