Brenna Kean’s Commonwealth Games weightlifting campaign has ended on a painful note after the Australian had to pull out with an ankle injury.
Competing in the 53kg category, Kean was attempting her third lift in the snatch at 75kg, which would have been a personal best.
Instead, she exited the competition on crutches and with an ice pack on her left ankle.
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“I gave it everything and unfortunately I had a bit of a full twist with my knee. The knee went in, the foot went the other way and then I felt a bit of a crunch in my ankle,” Kean told AAP.
“So we’re querying a bit of ligament damage, potentially, but we’re going to get it all assessed.
“It’s a bit of a shame, I had a really great build-up. These things happen.”
Kean, competing at her second Commonwealth Games, was remarkably composed only a few minutes after the cruel blow.
“You have to take the good with the bad and unfortunately the bad was on the big stage,” she said.
“Emotionally I’m pretty heartbroken, as everyone would be. As athletes we put everything into our prep and into our competitions and I love competing more than anything.
“So it’s a bit of a shame it happens on this stage. I love the Commonwealth Games, it means everything to me – but I will come back, better.”
The paramedic from Victoria narrowly missed the podium in the 59kg category at the Birmingham Games, finishing fifth.
She had plenty of support in the crowd, including parents Jack and Helen and fiance Jackson.
“I’m so disappointed I didn’t get to show my best today for them and everybody back in Australia,” she said.
Kean tried to warm up for the clean and jerk, but quickly realised her Games were done.
“It’s not worth putting myself in a worse position and doing anything dangerous,” she said.
“When you know, you know.”
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