Mike Groll / AP
Matthias Steiner of Germany gets hit by the weights while failing to make a successful lift in the men's over 105-kg, group A, weightlifting competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, on Aug. 7, in London.
Grigory Dukor / Reuters
Germany's Matthias Steiner is injured when his weights fall during the men's Group A snatch weightlifting competition at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games, on Aug. 7.
Dropping weights on your neck has to be one of the worst nightmares for an Olympic weightlifter. Even as a spectator, there is a tension when watching these athletes lift astonishing amounts of weight over their heads, especially because of the possibility that something like this will happen. Fortunately, Steiner got up and waved to the crowd after medics rushed over to treat him. Future medical tests will determine the severity of his injury. AP reports:
Defending Olympic weightlifting champion Matthias Steiner of Germany was hit in the neck by the barbell Tuesday in the men's super heavyweight competition.
Steiner lost his balance trying to lift 196 kilograms — about 432 pounds — in his second lift of the snatch portion of the competition. He fell awkwardly to the platform as the barbell crashed down on him.
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Grigory Dukor / Reuters
Germany's Matthias Steiner is struck by his falling weight after he dropped it during the men's Group A snatch weightlifting competition at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games on Aug. 7.
Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
Matthias Steiner of Germany lies on the floor after failing to lift in the Men's Weightlifting final on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on Aug. 7, in London.
Lars Baron / Getty Images
Matthias Steiner of Germany lies on the floor after failing to lift in the Men's Weightlifting final on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on Aug. 7, in London.
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