Aramnau: I was late and decided not to spare my body
The weightlifting record holder has told Euroradio why he has got injured right before the Olympic Games, who is to blame for it and how he is going to live now
"I have just started getting back into shape. I have lifted 190 and 200 kilos on my chest. I am close to the top-3 again. I'm equal. My ambitions played a part here, - says Aramnau. - I was late and I decided not to spare my body. I felt that something was starting to function again, that my muscle seemed whole again. Ambitions are the opposite of good sense and reason".
Aramnau got his first myorrhexis at a school sports and athletics meeting in Barysau the athlete did not want to take part in.
An injury in the same spot crossed out one of the Belarus' possible medals at the London Olympics on Saturday, July 21.
Andrei Aramnau: “I got the second myorrhexis . I was squatting with 240 kilos and my muscle simply disjointed. I did more than was needed and it tore off. That is why Belarus will win 24 medals at the Olympics. Not 25".
Aramnau decided to demonstrate his strength to officials at the school competition in Barysau and almost reached his record.
The trauma prevented the athlete from normal training for the next three weeks. One of his legs could not function well. According to Aramnau, the result started improving some ten days before the departure to the Olympics.
Who is to blame for the loss of our Olympic hope? The athlete said a lot and named the culprits. The weightlifter also blamed himself, personal coaches and the chief manager of the team. He said that the school sports competition was a strategic mistake.
Andrei Aramnau: "They made me go there anyway. I warned them many times that I did not need additional stress. My personal coaches also yielded to that provocation. The chief manager made a dust and said that I had not performed in the republic so far. He spoilt my life. He kept making me take part in those nasty competitions. It was not clever".
Andrei describes that when he bends his leg, he feels some "electric pricking" now. We asked him whether he was going to quit sport.
Andrei Aramnau: “When I was injured at the school competition, the doctor, he was a Doctor of Medicine, said that I needed 60 days to restore. Everything will be okay. The muscle will be restored. That is why I am a healthy sportsman unlike many others who became handicapped".
The weightlifter was told to go to the officials right after the Saturday injury to explain the situation to them. But Aramnau is taking his time: he wants to see whether the attitude to him is going to change. Then he will take a decision about the future.
Andrei Aramnau: “I can lead a normal life now. There is no euphoria. I must recover my feet instead of trying to stand on some artificial support".