Olympic Weightlifter Drops 423-Pound Barbell on His Neck

YURI CORTEZ/AFP/GettyImages(LONDON) -- German weightlifter Matthias Steiner lost his balance and dropped a 423-pound barbell on his neck during the 105-kilogram, super-heavyweight weightlifting finals Tuesday.

Video shows Steiner, Germany’s defending super-heavyweight champion, crumbling under the weight of the barbell in his second lift of the snatch portion of the competition.

Paramedics rushed to Steiner, bringing a banner to shield him for public view.

Steiner appeared to be fine, however, and walked away from the incident waving to the crowd. He was taken to the hospital for X-rays.

He withdrew from the competition in the 230-pound weight category.

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