Weightlifter Fails Clean-and-Jerk in Scary Fashion, Eventually Triumphs

A scary moment occurred at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto over the weekend when Venezuelan weightlifter Genesis Rodriguez Gomez collapsed after a failed clean-and-jerk attempt in the 53-kg group.

SportsGrid.com's Rick Chandler spotted video of the incident. 

On her first attempt at 106 kg, Gomez overextended herself and lost control of the barbell. Doing the splits with 234 pounds suspended over your head is not an ideal position to find yourself in, and Gomez folded to the ground as the weight came crashing down.

The Associated Press captured some incredible images of the sequence, which did not end in injury. I repeat: Gomez is fine.

Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press

Like a unitard-clad Terminator, Gomez regained her feet and proceeded to successfully lift the weight on her second attempt. She then improved on her day with a 109-kg clean-and-jerk.

Gomez roared back and took silver in the event—on a day where she nearly had her spine/knees/coccyx snapped like fresh glow sticks.

So, yeah: Olympic-caliber athletes are only human beings like the rest of us in a technical sense.

Dan is on Twitter. His weightlifting routine involves glamour muscles and Instagram between sets.