Olympic Weightlifter’s Grandmother Dies Watching Him Compete In Rio

Jubilation quickly turned into grief for the family of one Olympic medalist.

The grandmother of Sinphet Kruaithong, a weightlifter from Thailand, collapsed and died Sunday while watching a live broadcast of her 20-year-old grandson competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, according to multiple reports.

Kruaithong’s grandmother, Subin Khongthap, whose age has been reported as 82 and 84, collapsed while watching the competition on TV with a crowd of people gathered at the weightlifter’s home, according to the Bangkok Post. She reportedly regained consciousness at one point but later died at the hospital. She did not see her grandson win the bronze medal.

A police officer reportedly said the assumption was that Khongthap died of heart failure, although nothing was confirmed as of Monday afternoon.

“I’m not sure if she was too excited, or if maybe she was already ill,” the officer said, per Channel NewsAsia.

Our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to Kruaithong and his family.