import bpy
import mathutils

obj = bpy.context.active_object
me = obj.data

me.calc_tangents()

vertices = []

for t in me.polygons:
    assert(t.loop_total == 3)
    for l in t.loop_indices:
        loop = me.loops[l]
        pos = me.vertices[loop.vertex_index].co
        nrm = loop.normal
        uv = me.uv_layers.active.data[l].uv
        vertices.append([[pos.x, pos.y, pos.z], [uv.x, uv.y], [nrm.x, nrm.y, nrm.z]])

assert(len(vertices)%3 == 0)

me2 = bpy.data.meshes.new("meshCopy")

me2.vertices.add(len(vertices))
me2.polygons.add(len(vertices)/3)
me2.loops.add(len(vertices))

me2.uv_textures.new()
uv_layer = me2.uv_layers[0]
custom_normals = [None] * len(vertices)

for i in range(len(vertices)//3):
    me2.loops[i*3].vertex_index = i*3
    me2.loops[i*3+1].vertex_index = i*3+1
    me2.loops[i*3+2].vertex_index = i*3+2

    uv_layer.data[i*3].uv = mathutils.Vector(vertices[i*3][1])
    uv_layer.data[i*3+1].uv = mathutils.Vector(vertices[i*3+1][1])
    uv_layer.data[i*3+2].uv = mathutils.Vector(vertices[i*3+2][1])

    me2.vertices[i*3].co = mathutils.Vector(vertices[i*3][0])
    me2.vertices[i*3+1].co = mathutils.Vector(vertices[i*3+1][0])
    me2.vertices[i*3+2].co = mathutils.Vector(vertices[i*3+2][0])

    custom_normals[i*3] = vertices[i*3][2]
    custom_normals[i*3+1] = vertices[i*3+1][2]
    custom_normals[i*3+2] = vertices[i*3+2][2]

    me2.polygons[i].loop_start = i*3
    me2.polygons[i].loop_total = 3
    me2.polygons[i].material_index = 0

me2.update(calc_edges=True)
me2.normals_split_custom_set(custom_normals)

me2.materials.append(bpy.data.materials['bronze_medal'])

me2.use_auto_smooth = True

obj2 = bpy.data.objects.new("copy object", me2)
bpy.context.scene.objects.link(obj2)

obj2.location = mathutils.Vector([0,-1,0])