Sinphet Kruaithong won a bronze medal in the second day of competition in the 2016 sporting event.
A crowd of local people had gathered in front of the television at the home of the Thai weightlifter in Ban Phon Muang of Chumphon Buri district of the northeastern province of Surin to cheer him on.
The crowd included Sinphet’s father Thongdam Kruaithong, 56; mother Chan Kruaithong, 48, and grandmother Subin Khongthap, 82.
While watch the live telecast of the contest from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mrs Subin collapsed during the excitement as Sinphet competed in the 56-kilogramme division.
She was rushed, unconscious to Chumphon Buri Hospital, where she was pronounced dead about an hour afterwards. According to reports, she did not see him win the medal a short time later.
Mrs Chan, Sinphet’s mother, said that while she was saddened by the sudden loss of her mother, she was glad her son had won a medal for his country.
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