Olympics star suffers freak injury while celebrating medal win in Paris

Adil Osmanov won only Moldova’s eighth Olympic medal in history on Monday in the Judo.

Competing in the Men’s 73kg event, the 24-year-old defeated Italy’s Manuel Lombardo in one of the bronze medal matches and was clearly overjoyed with his victory.

Follow Metro.co.uk’s live blog for updates from the Paris 2024 Olympics

Osmanov fell to his knees and screamed in delight, before celebrating with a dramatic fist-pump – appearing to dislocate his right shoulder, or at the very least seriously injury his arm, in the process.

He clutched his stricken arm with his left hand in agony but thankfully recovered in time to step on the podium alongside the other medalists.

Afterward, the Moldovan revealed he had actually been advised to have surgery on his shoulder ahead of the Paris Olympics and had been suffering with illness ahead of the match.

‘Yes, it was very difficult. And during the warm-up I felt bad, but I’ve had that before – and that’s when I got a medal,’ Osmanov said.

‘I had no options to back down.’

He also dedicated his medal to his late father, adding: ‘He dreamed of reaching the Olympics himself.

‘He did not succeed due to financial impossibility. He dreamed that one of his children would reach the Olympics and get a medal.’