OLYMPIC decathlete Thomas van der Plaetsen ended up face down in the sandpit after suffering a nasty injury in the long jump.
The 30-year-old's leg appeared to give way just as he prepared to leap, making him crash land before he left the stadium in a wheelchair.
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The Belgian athlete was trying to post a decent score in the second event of the decathlon.
Van der Plaetsen failed to post his first attempt after pulling up with an apparent hamstring injury.
Not wanting to give up on his Olympic dream, the former European champion had another go at registering a score.
But as he leaped into the air on his second attempt, his jumping leg gave way and he lost his balance.
Van der Plaetsen then crashed face first into the sand, immediately causing concern among the limited number of people watching on.
The athlete is believed to have injured his right knee and was whisked away in a wheelchair after receiving treatment inside the stadium.
Van der Plaetsen has achieved considerable success in the decathlon, becoming European champion in 2016.
He also won a bronze medal in the heptathlon at the 2014 World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland.
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Van der Plaetsen's achievements in athletics are remarkable considering he recovered from testicular cancer in 2014.
Although he's gone on to become a successful athlete, Olympic glory has so far evaded him - finishing eighth in Rio five years ago.
British favourite Katarina Johnson-Thompson is also out of the Games after suffering a calf injury during the 200metres on day one of the heptathlon.
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