Rio Olympics 2016: Colombian weightlifter Oscar Figueroa bursts into tears after winning gold in the 62kg category

IN one of the most incredible displays of passion seen in sport, Colombian weightlifter Oscar Figueroa left it all out there in the gym… Literally.

After clinching a stunning gold medal in the men’s 62kg class, the South American star, 33, slumped to the ground, burst into tears and then retired.

Following his wonderful display of emotion, Figueroa took off his shoes in the same spot he won the gold, before strolling off the mat, signalling his retirement.

You can’t blame the Colombian veteran for his incredible reaction, after all, it’s been a long journey to Olympic gold.

Cast your mind back 12 years – or three Olympic Games in athlete circles – and Figueroa could only manage fifth place in the 56kg class.

Four years later, tipped for big things and the Colombian failed to even register a lift – with Figueroa claiming an pain-killing injected in his right hand resulted in a complete loss of feeling.

London 2012 was his chance for redemption and the South American star performed admirably chalking up a silver medal with a whopping lift of 317kg – only behind Indonesian Eko Yuli Irawan.

Enter Rio 2016, in what is certainly deemed to be Figueroa’s last chance… And boy, did he know it.

Going one better – in more ways than one – in Brazil, the Colombian summoned up everything he could to lift 318kg and take home the gold.

Cue ecstasy in the Riocentro Pavilion Two.

This is what it means to these sports stars, training for four years hoping, wishing…