An Armenian weightlifter crashed out of the Olympics in agony as his left elbow gave way during a second attempt to lift 195kg.  

The 20-year-old Andranik Karapetyan was one of the favourites for the 77kg category and strode onto the stage with the confidence befitting a European champion.

He lifted the vast weight onto his broad shoulders but when he attempted the clean and jerk, his left arm gave way.

As the weight crashed to the mat, medical officials rushed to attend to the unfortunate young Olympian.

Seconds earlier, he had appeared a certainty for a medal - which would have been Armenia's first of this Olympic Games - but his dreams were cruelly shattered in the most devastating circumstances.