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Matthias Steiner of Germany gets hit by the weights while failing to make a successful lift in the men's over 105-kg, group A, weightlifting competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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German weightlifter OK after barbell accident

'No fears of permanent damage'

Updated: Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012, 10:28 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012, 10:28 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — It helps to have a thick neck if you're going to drop a 432-pound barbell on it.

Just ask German weightlifter Matthias Steiner.

The defending Olympic champion is sore and bruised but escaped serious injury when he dropped the bar on himself in the super heavyweight competition, team doctors said Wednesday. He got to his feet and was taken to the hospital.

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"Although I would have loved to win a medal here, abandoning the competition was the right thing to do," Steiner said. "Now I am just glad that there are no fears of permanent damage."

Tests showed Steiner suffered ligament and muscle injuries in the accident Tuesday, but no damage to his spine, German team doctor Helmut Schreiber said. No surgery was needed.

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