The European Weightlifting Championships have been left stunned by the horrific moment Gaelle Nayo Ketchanke suffered multiple breaks of her arm and a dislocated elbow in one sickening lift.
The 31-year-old from France was attempting to execute a clean snatch of 110kg in the women's 76kg categoryat the event in Batumi, Georgia.
Nayo Ketchanke had earlier failed to lift the bar at the 110kg mark — her career personal best — and disaster struck when she approached the bar for a third time.
Nayo Ketchanke had been able to lift the bar over the back of her head and was preparing to spring the bar to complete the lift when her left arm buckled right at the moment she was about to use her legs to drive the bar above her head.
A live video stream of the event broadcast by the European Weightlifting Federation then turned into a horror movie as Nayo Ketchanke arm snapped at the elbow, bending the arm back around on itself as she tried to release the bar safely behind her body.
Instead the bar collapsed onto her torso as she fell forward and was caught between the floor and the bar.
The live stream then changed to a different camera to focus on Nayo Ketchanke French team inside the venue, but her distressing screams could still be heard as the local commentary team attempted to not to focus on the horrific injury.
She was still screaming in agony when medical officials were able to run up to the stage.
According to Inside The Games, the silver-medallist at last year's European Championships in Romania was taken off the stage on a stretcher and was transported immediately to a hospital nearby.
The French team at the event has since confirmed Nayo Ketchanke's left arm was broken in two places during the incident. According to unconfirmed reports, she also suffered a dislocated elbow.
The incident completely overshadowed the action on day six of the annual European Championships where Darya Naumava, of Belarus caused an upset to win the women's 76kg category.
Red hot favourite Lidia Valentin of Spain failed to execute her final 136kg clean and jerk lift to hand victory to Naumava in the overall competition.
The earlier tragedy to Nayo Ketchanke leaves a massive question mark on whether the veteran lifter will be able to recover in time for next year's Tokyo Olympics.
