A scary moment inside a gym has shocked the fitness world. Brazilian bodybuilder Ranieri Lopes Filho suffered a serious leg injury while trying to leg press 400 kilograms during training. The painful moment was caught on video and later shared by Lopes Filho himself on social media. The 31-year-old athlete was preparing for a bodybuilding event scheduled for May when the accident happened. As he pushed the heavy weight, his body suddenly gave way. A loud tearing sound was heard, and Lopes Filho screamed in pain while holding his right knee.The injury was so severe that gym staff rushed to help him within seconds. Emergency services were called right away, and Lopes Filho was taken to hospital. Doctors later confirmed he had ruptured his quadriceps tendon, a serious injury that will keep him away from training for months. Now, after ten years of hard work in bodybuilding, Lopes Filho faces a long and slow recovery. His road back will take patience, rest, and medical care, with no quick return to the gym.
Ranieri Lopes Filho suffers quadriceps tendon rupture while leg pressing 400kg in Brazil
The injury happened at a gym in Teresina, located in the north-east Brazilian state of Piauí. Ranieri Lopes Filho had just sat down for his second attempt at the leg press when the injury struck. As he pushed the weight, his right leg failed, causing the tendon to tear.The video shared on Instagram shows Lopes Filho gripping his knee, throwing his head back, and crying out in pain. The sound of the tear can be clearly heard. People nearby quickly reacted. Gym workers and other members removed the weights and lifted the machine off his legs. Even after help arrived, Lopes Filho remained in clear pain and rolled to his side as he waited for medical care.He was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery the very next day. Doctors told him he must keep his leg fully straight for three weeks and must not bend his knee at all during that time. They also advised physiotherapy, including electrical stimulation therapy, to help the muscle heal.Medical staff warned that it will take several months before he can walk normally again. Light training is not expected to begin until the end of the year, and only if his recovery goes well.After posting the video, Lopes Filho received strong support from fans and fellow athletes. In a message shared with the footage, he wrote:“Although each experience is unique, it’s the decisions we make that guide the meaning of our existence. Thus, life presents numerous challenges whose consequences reveal both the weight of decisions and the false alternatives that offer us only the illusion of freedom.”
