26-year-old vaulter Samir Ait Said’s campaign at Rio 2016 has been tragically cut short, after he suffered one of the most gruesome injuries imaginable while performing the Men's Vault during the qualifying stage on Saturday. He broke his left leg on the vault landing, the portion below the knee seen hanging limply in the horrific moments afterward.
Said somersaulted once, but his second one was interrupted by the mat in a horrible way. A loud crack was heard through the arena, and a hush fell as Said crumpled to the floor clutching his left leg. Arena medical personnel immediately rushed to him.
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There was a loud applause as Said was lifted onto a stretcher and carried off. The athlete raised an arm in acknowledgement from the stretcher.
The injury is a reminder of the impossibilities of the body which is required in the sports of gymnastics and how a minuscule error can have a devastating effect in this sport.
