Australian weightlifter Ridge Barredo suffered a serious knee injury during the men's 110kg event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, buckling under a 190kg clean-and-jerk attempt on his third and final lift.
Barredo's right leg gave way as he attempted the lift, sending him crashing onto his back. Officials placed a screen around him while he received medical treatment before he left the arena on crutches.
"I heard a pop on the third attempt. I tried to give it my all," Barredo said. "The initial pain was an eight or nine out of 10. I'll get some scans but, hopefully, it's not too serious. It's a first for me, which was a bit scary."
Barredo had successfully lifted 155kg in the snatch and would have finished fourth had his final clean-and-jerk been successful. The failed attempt meant he did not record an overall finish.
Despite the injury, the 30-year-old was emphatic that his weightlifting career is not over. He said his plan is to rehab the injury, get his body ready, and keep going, adding that he is still relatively young and still hungry to be the best in Australia. He set his sights on competing at a fourth Commonwealth Games in Amdavad in 2030.
Barredo is also known for appearing on the 2024 season of Married At First Sight, where he met his partner Jade Pywell. The couple are described as one of only around eight pairs from the show who have remained together. Pywell and her 10-year-old daughter Victoria had traveled from the Gold Coast to watch him compete in Glasgow.
While Barredo plans to continue his athletic career, he firmly ruled out returning to reality television. He described the Married At First Sight environment as toxic and said he would not recommend it, noting that having found his partner, his TV career is done.
After moving from Sydney to the Gold Coast to be with Jade and Victoria following the show, Barredo credited Pywell's support as a major reason he was able to return to Commonwealth Games competition despite the demanding training schedule.
Pywell posted a photo after the event showing Barredo smiling alongside her and Victoria despite wearing a heavily bandaged knee and using crutches, writing that she was proud and that three Commonwealth Games is an achievement on its own.
The family had planned a four-week European holiday following the Games, though Barredo must first undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury.
