Samir Ait Said, Novak Djokovic, Richie Porte: athletes involved in Rio’s most heartbreaking moments

IT’S only day three but Rio has already seen it’s fair share of heartbreak. Here are five athletes who have been reduced to tears (one you can fully understand).

British judoka Ashley McKenzie has his head in his hands behind a garbage bin.

IT’S only day three but Rio has already seen it’s fair share of heartbreaking Olympic moments.

Here are five athletes who have been reduced to tears (one, well, you can fully understand).

Samir Ait Said (gymnastics): It’s likely nobody will ever say ‘break a leg’ to the French gymnast ever again, after the world’s press captured the most gruesome injury in the Games thus far. Said’s left leg snapped on landing during the men’s gymnastics vault preliminaries and as he rolled over in shock, clutching his face, his foot and the lower half of his shin dangled in the opposite direction to the rest of the limb.

Officials rush to help Annemiek van Vleuten Hurt after her shocking fall.

Annemiek van Vleuten (cycling): Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten was leading the women’s road cycling race when she was flung over the handlebars of her bike and into the gutter, while taking a rain-slicked corner on the treacherous descent into Rio. Van Vleuten was taken to hospital where “severe concussion and three small fractures in her lumbar spine” were diagnosed, according to the Dutch cycling federation.

Ashley McKenzie (judo): Lightning does indeed strike twice and for British judoka Ashley McKenzie it did so in the worst way, after losing narrowly in London, the same fate met him in Rio. The Brit couldn’t contain himself, his pain photographed for all to see as he cried on hands and knees behind a rubbish bin in Rio.

British judoka Ashley McKenzie has his head in his hands behind a garbage bin.

Novak Djokovic (tennis): Men’s world No.1 Novak Djokovic was brought to tears as Juan Martin del Potro found his best form. The injury-riddled Argentine, who won the US Open in 2009, was flawless in sending `Nole’ out in the first round. Djokovic left the court in tears, his Olympic dream shattered yet again.

Richie Porte (cycling): The Aussiee ended up battered and bruised after crashing out of the men’s road race with 35km of the 237.5km to go. “So that’s how my day went, me vs a tree. Not really sure who came off better #treehugger,” Porte posted to Twitter, confirming he would be out of action with a broken shoulderblade.

Originally published as Samir Ait Said, Novak Djokovic, Richie Porte: athletes involved in Rio’s most heartbreaking moments