Success Turns To Tragedy As Thai Weightlifter's Grandmother Dies Celebrating Rio Bronze Medal Win
Sinphet Kruaithong won bronze in his 56-kg division and his rural village was following his live broadcast. While watching it live on a projector Kruaithongs 84-year-old grandmother Subin Khongthap collapsed. Initial assumption is that she died from heart failure -- but we have to wait for the hospitals result.
AFP
Emotions of success turned into tragedy for the family of a weightlifter from Thailand whose grandmother passed away while celebrating his bronze-medal winning feat the 2016 Rio Olympics. The weightlifter, Sinphet Kruaithong won bronze in his 56-kg division and his rural village was following his live broadcast. While watching it live on a projector, Kruaithong's 84-year-old grandmother, Subin Khongthap collapsed.
Reuters
"The initial assumption is that she died from heart failure -- but we have to wait for the hospital's result," said Somwang Prangprakoan a police officer in northeastern Surin province. "I'm not sure if she was too excited, or if maybe she was already ill," he added.
AFP
According to an interview prior to the Rio Olympics, Kruaithong's grandmother said she missed her grandson and was overjoyed by his sporting journey. "I cheer him on, fight fight! I miss my grandson and want him to be successful. He does this for the country to bring the gold medal back," she had said.
Kruaithong was the second Thai athlete to win a medal in Rio, following a gold secured by a female weightlifter in the 48-kilogramme category on Saturday. Sopita Tanasan, 21, is the fourth Thai woman ever to win a weightlifting Olympic gold.
