Chris Murray collapsed during the men's 79kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games on Monday evening, prompting medics to rush to his side. The athlete aborted his attempt mid-way and fainted, leading staff to form a human shield and use a towel to protect his modesty.
Medics Respond Quickly
A TNT Sports commentator reassured viewers that Murray was "okay" and simply needed oxygen, adding: "Not what we want to see, but he’s absolutely fine. Nothing to worry about, just a bit of oxygen to the brain." The broadcaster switched to a wide shot to avoid distress. Murray left the stage to cheers and was later seen drinking water backstage.
Return to Competition
Five minutes after the collapse, Murray returned to attempt a lift of 177kg—three kilograms more than he had failed to clear on his second attempt. He succeeded, moving to the top of the standings, but was later overtaken by Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad and India’s Valluri Ajaya Babu. Murray secured the bronze medal.
Athlete's Reaction
After winning bronze, Murray said: "I’m walking away pain free, injury free and I’m just looking forward to the next block." He added: "To come back and put up a PB total, matching the total I lifted in Birmingham, I'm buzzing. I'm just glad everything came together in time. We've been describing it in training as ‘baking the cake’. You can't keep looking in the oven door to check whether it's ready."
