The 84-year-old grandmother of a Thai weightlifter collapsed and died on Monday while her grandson won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics.
Sinphet Kruaithong’s impressive showing in the 56-kilogram division turned bittersweet after the 20-year-old heard the news.
“The initial assumption is that she died from heart failure ― but we have to wait for the hospital’s result,” Somwang Prangprakoan, a police officer in the Surin province, told Agence France-Presse. “I’m not sure if she was too excited, or if maybe she was already ill.”
Reports said the athlete’s grandmother, Subin Khongthap, was watching the event on a projector along with other fans when she collapsed.
Local media had interviewed her in the days leading up to the competition.
“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 said, according to The Telegraph.
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