Armenian weightlifter has sickening injury

An Armenian weightlifter has suffered a shocking injury in trying to lift two and a half times his bodyweight at the Rio Games, with his left elbow giving way and bending backwards.

He was attempting to clear 195kg in the clean and jerk.

Andranik Karapetyan, competing in the men's 77kg class on Wednesday night, was in with a strong medal chance as he bent over the bar in a second attempt at the weight.

He hoisted the bar to his chest but as he tried to thrust the bar above his head, his elbow collapsed, leaving him screaming in pain and clutching his arm.

Karapetyan was rushed to hospital, with Armenian media reporting that he suffered a dislocation but no fractures.

His elbow was put back in place with the full extent of damage to the joint to be clear after Karapetyan returns home.