Holley Mangold’s Injury-Defying Lift In 11 Pictures

American weightlifter Holley Mangold wasn’t sure she’d even be able to finish her event Sunday, due to a wrist injury.

1.

Mangold (above at the opening ceremonies with Kobe Bryant) came to London with an injured right wrist, which can be a problem if you’re lifting 500-lb weights over your head.

Image by Lars Baron / Getty Images

2.

In Olympic weightlifting, a competitor has to complete the “snatch” (lifting the weight overhead in one motion) in order to move on to the “clean and jerk” (lifting it to the shoulders and then overhead). Due to her injury, Mangold was worried she might not.

Image by Hassan Ammar / AP

3.

She struggled — above is a failed lift attempt. Weightlifters get three attempts at both the snatch and the clean and jerk.

Image by DAMIR SAGOLJ / Reuters

4.

But ultimately, she completed both parts of the event.

Image by Jamie Squire / Getty Images

5.

She lifted a total of 529 pounds.

Image by Rob Carr / Getty Images

6.

Even though she hadn’t successfully completed a clean and jerk in weeks.

Image by Ng Han Guan / AP

7.

She placed 10th overall. Gold went to Zhou Lulu of China.

Image by Hassan Ammar / AP

8.

Watching Zhou, Mangold says she thought, “One day I’ll beat you.”

Image by Rob Carr / Getty Images

9.

Mangold’s brother Nick, who plays for the New York Jets, was in the audience. He wasn’t going to go, but his teammates convinced him.

Image by Hassan Ammar / AP

10.

Nick Mangold says he wouldn’t have tried what his sister attempted on Saturday: “I think I would have passed.”

Image by DAMIR SAGOLJ / Reuters

11.

Mangold is already psyched for 2016. She says, “This is just the beginning. This made me really excited for the next Olympics, so I’ll be there, and that time I won’t be hurt.”

Image by Hassan Ammar / AP