Scott Van Pelt shares his thoughts on Japanese Olympian Kohei Uchimura receiving a $4,954 mobile phone bill after playing Pokémon Go in Rio. (1:03)

SVP says Japanese gymnast should have turned off data roaming (1:03)

TOKYO -- Japanese Olympic gymnast Kohei Uchimura might be a record six-time world champion, but he won't be encountering much success in his "Pokemon Go" efforts after running up a huge roaming bill in Rio.

Uchimura was stunned to receive a 500,000 yen ($4,954) mobile phone bill after he played the popular augmented-reality game, Kyodo news agency reported Tuesday. What must make the situation even more frustrating for Uchimura is that "Pokemon Go" has not even been released in Brazil yet, so his chances of success were nil.

"He looked dead at the team meal that day," teammate Kenzo Shirai said, according to Kyodo.

Japan's Kohei Uchimura is an Olympic gold medalist and budding Pokemon master, but he learned a tough lesson in cellphone roaming charges. Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Thankfully for him, his Japanese carrier service agreed to reduce his bill to a 3,000 yen (around $30) daily all-you-can-use contract, Kyodo said.

"I really lucked out," Uchimura said, according to Kyodo.

Uchimura is the reigning gold medalist in the men's all-around competition. He has said he is just as committed to a Japan team gold in Rio de Janeiro as he is to winning a personal title.

Nikkan Sports newspaper predicted, "Uchimura may not get any Pokemon, but he will surely get gold."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.