By: The Associated Press (AP)
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

It helps to have a thick neck if you're going to drop a 196-kilogram (432-pound) barbell on it.

Team doctors said German weightlifter Matthias Steiner is sore and bruised but escaped serious injury after getting hit by the bar in the super heavyweight competition.

The defending Olympic champion got up on his feet but left the competition Tuesday.

German team doctor Helmut Schreiber said medical tests showed Steiner suffered ligament and muscle injuries but no damage to his spine. No surgery was needed.

"Although I would have loved to win a medal here, abandoning the competition was the right thing to do," Steiner said. "Now I am just glad that there are no fears of permanent damage."

— Karl Ritter - Twitter http://twitter.com/karl_ritter

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