Weightlifter wins Olympic gold after making promise to late wife, who tragically died in accident months earlier

A weightlifter won Olympic gold after making a promise to his late wife, who tragically died just months earlier.

There are often many factors that motivate Olympic athletes to victory, far beyond the prospect of winning a medal.

Such was the case at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, when one of the most heartbreaking stories of the Games broke out during the weightlifting competition.

Germany’s Matthias Steiner won the gold medal in the +105kg weightlifting event, a monumental feat for several reasons.

Steiner attended Beijing just a year after the tragic death of his wife, Susann, when her car collided with an SUV driving on the wrong side of the road.

The weightlifter reportedly lost up to eight kilos while grieving the death of his wife, but was able to continue training after promising her he would win gold at the 2008 Games.

At the following summer’s Olympics, Steiner failed his third snatch attempt and, at 203 kg, placed fourth after the snatch.

Despite failing his first clean and jerk attempt, Steiner managed a clean and jerk of 258 kg and a total of 461 kg, earning him the gold medal.

The scene that followed was one of the most emotional in Olympic history: Steiner burst into tears. He stood on the medal podium with a photo of his late wife and the gold medal he had promised her.

Sport has spawned some incredible stories over the years, but few have been as moving as what Steiner experienced.