Injured French gymnast Samir Ait Said takes first steps toward comeback
RIO DE JANEIRO — Samir Ait Said has taken the first steps toward his comeback.
The French gymnast who shattered his left leg during qualifying Saturday needed only crutches when he visited France House earlier this week. The French Olympic team posted a video of Ait Said moving with ease on crutches, smiling as he chatted with other French athletes and media members.
Ait Said also posted a video on his Facebook page of him when he was still in the hospital, taking his first steps with a walker.
Ait Said’s horrific injury drew worldwide attention and sympathy. His left tibia and fibula shattered as he landed his vault, the sharp crack able to be heard throughout the arena. As he rolled over, clutching his leg just below the knee, his foot and the lower half of his shin dangled in the opposite direction of the rest of his leg.
Making the injury even sadder was that he had missed the 2012 Olympics after breaking his right leg a few months before at the European championships – also on vault.
But Ait Said said immediately that he would be fine and planned to continue competing with an eye on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
“The adventure of Tokyo 2020 is still possible,” he said earlier this week. “As soon as I’m back on my feet I’ll be back in training and searching for that Olympic gold.”