A 432-pound barbell crashed down on the neck of Germany's defending super heavyweight weightlifting champion, causing him to leave the final event. Matthias Steiner lost his balance Tuesday trying to lift 196 kilograms in his second lift of the snatch portion of the competition. He fell awkwardly to the platform as the barbell crashed down on him. Medical personnel rushed up to tend to the German, who got onto his feet and waved to the crowd as he walked into the back room. He didn't come out for his third attempt. "He is in a bit of pain in the back, and they don't want him to get a real heavy injury," said Harold Strier, a spokesman for Germany's weightlifting federation. ___ EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.
BARBELL FALL
— Aug. 8 1:54 AM EDT
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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, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
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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, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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