One weightlifter’s Olympic dreams were ended on Wednesday when suffered a horrific elbow injury. Armenian athlete, Adranik Karapetyan is the reigning European champion who likely would have had a chance to medal in 2016 Rio Olympics in the 77-kilogram event before the accident.
While attempting to raise 195 kilograms (430 pounds) over his head in the clean and jerk lift, the 20-year-old athlete lost his grip under the weight. In an effort to hold on to the barbell, he hyperextended his elbow backwards in gruesome fashion. Karapetyan immediately dropped the bar, and was left in agony as he crumbled to the ground in pain from the horrific injury to his elbow.
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The Armenian coach could not even look at Karapetyan’s arm after the injury as his elbow was certainly not where it was supposed to be. An official helped Karapetyan off the floor and was trying to avoid looking at his arm as well. As the athlete fought back his tears, the medical staff attended to the athlete immediately after the injury.
The gold medal was later won by Kazakhstan’s Nijat Rahimov. He broke the clean and jerk record over China’s champion Lyu Xiaojun, who held the record since the London 2012 Olympics.
To see the horrific moment for yourself, check out the video above. But be warned, the injury is quite gruesome and features a lot of screaming.
We wish the Armenian Olympic athlete a speedy recovery after this terrible injury, and hope that he can quickly resume his promising career.
