Samir Ait Said’s Rio Olympics came to a gruesome end Saturday.
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A French gymnast who dramatically broke his leg at the Rio Olympics had his pain further compounded when hapless medical staff dropped his stretcher as he was hurried out of the stadium.
Speaking in 2013, the Frenchman was determined to right the wrongs of his last Olympic campaign in Rio: ‘I’m angry, and I want my revenge.
Said’s father, persuaded to come out to Rio, watching his son compete for the first time in four years, witnessed the incident, which we shan’t detail here – you’ve, of course, seen the video by now.
Samir suffered an open fracture to his tibia and fibula when he tried to land his vault yesterday.
Said later posted a Facebook video from his hospital bed thanking people for the outpouring of support and vowing to return to the sport.
‘The operation went very well and I can be back on my feet quite soon, relatively.
‘I will be going back to the arena soon to cheer on my friends because the competition hasn’t finished yet.
“I’ve gotten into the spirit of things with my blue-white-red plaster, allez la France!” said Ait Said, showing his plastered foot in the French national colours. He shattered his left leg on his vault landing, the sharp crack able to be heard throughout the arena.
Ait Said qualified for the rings final on his speciality apparatus before disaster struck and had been one of France’s leading medal hopes.
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“Taking into account the type of injury and the quality and rapidity of the surgical treatment, we expect that he will recover well”, said Leglise. Plus, after seeing Paul get his ankles broken against China on Saturday night, Ait Said should feel secure that he’s seeking the best advice possible. Miller said Said was not yet accepting visitors as of Sunday afternoon.
