The 84-year-old grandmother of a Thai bronze medal winner at the 2016 Rio Olympics collapsed and died on Monday while celebrating the weightlifter's success, police said.
The octogenarian was watching a live broadcast of her 20-year-old grandson, Sinphet Kruaithong, take third place in the 56-kg division.
But a viral video showed the jubilant scene of cheering fans in his rural hometown transform into tragedy after his grandmother, Subin Khongthap, collapsed while watching the competition on a projector.
"The initial assumption is that she died from heart failure -- but we have to wait for the hospital's result," said Somwang Prangprakoan, a police officer in northeastern Surin province.
"I'm not sure if she was too excited, or if maybe she was already ill," he added.
During an interview with local press ahead of the competition, Sinphet's grandmother said she missed her grandson but was overjoyed by his sporting journey.
"I cheer him on, fight fight! I miss my grandson and want him to be successful. He does this for the country to bring the gold medal back," she said.
Sinphet was the second Thai athlete to win a medal in Rio, following a gold secured by a female weightlifter in the 48-kg category on Saturday.
Sopita Tanasan, 21, is the fourth Thai woman ever to win a weightlifting Olympic gold.
Rio Olympics: Thai Bronze Medallist's Grandmother Dies Celebrating Win
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Sinphet Khongthap's grandmother collapsed while watching the 2016 Rio Olympics weightlifting competition on a projector that her grandson was taking part in
Thailand's Sinphet Kruaithong in action during men's 56kg weightlifting event at the Rio 2016 Olympics.© AFP
Highlights
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Sinphet Kruaithong's grandmother passed away after he won bronze at Rio
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Sinphet took third place in weightlifting 56-kg division
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Subin collapsed while watching competition on a projector in her hometown