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(Image: GETTY)

Tough judo star Dirk Van Tichelt had just achieved one of his career goals after winning a medal at the Olympic Games.

The buff Belgian scooped a bronze medal in the 73kg category – and naturally picked the sun and sand of the world-famous Copacabana to relax afterwards.

But after kicking back with friends Van Tichelt's day took a dramatic turn for the worse.

(Image: GETTY)

The tough champ was set upon by a local thug who left him with a huge black eye.

A thief lamped the bronze medal winner so hard that Van Tichelt was forced to go to hospital.

The rock-hard Rio ruffian took off with Van Tichelt's mobile phone but the Olympian judo was able to keep hold of his prized medal.

The Belgian Olympic Committee confirmed that he had been taken to a local hospital.

He did not receive any treatment and appeared at an event the next day with his shiner and medal on show.

Rio’s gangs often target tourists as easy pickings for stealing phones, wallets and passports.