An Olympic decathlete twisted his ankle on the long jump, belly-flopped into the pit, and had to be taken away in a wheelchair

• A Tokyo Olympics decathlete twisted his ankle then belly-flopped into the pit during the long jump.
• Thomas Van der Plaetsen's ankle appeared to roll under him just as he was about to make his jump.
• The 30-year-old needed a wheelchair to leave the track and could not compete in the next event.

A Belgian decathlete needed a wheelchair to leave the track after twisting his ankle and belly flopping into the long jump pit during the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday.

Thomas Van der Plaetsen was attempting the long jump when he appeared to injure himself on the run up.

Unable to control himself as he ran at high speed, the Belgian belly flopped into the sand and laid there for a while in pain.

The 30-year-old appeared to roll his ankle underneath him as he was preparing to make his jump.

He was initially approached by a steward who checked on him, but dismissed the steward at first, making a gesture as if to say "give me a minute."

Soon afterwards though, Van der Plaetsen appeared to realise he definitely needed help, calling for assistance, at which point he was escorted away from the event in a wheelchair.

Van der Plaetsen was then unable to compete in the next event, the shot put, and it is doubtful he will be able to participate in the high jump and 400 meters, which also take place on Wednesday.

The men's decathlon, often considered the most challenging of all men's athletic events, takes place over Wednesday and Thursday this week, with Canada's Damian Warner the favorite to take home gold.