- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160806231132-day-one-samir-ait-said-injury.jpg?q=x_235,y_438,h_1052,w_1871,c_crop/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160806231132-day-one-samir-ait-said-injury.jpg?q=x_235,y_438,h_1052,w_1871,c_crop/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="
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Updated 7:51 AM EDT, Sun August 7, 2016
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An overview shows France's Samir Ait Said being stretchered off after being injured while competing in the qualifying for the men's vault event of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016. / AFP / Antonin THUILLIER (Photo credit should read ANTONIN THUILLIER/AFP/Getty Images)
French gymnast breaks leg during vault in Rio
00:54 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

Samir Ait Said tells fans he will be back to win gold in four years' time

Said missed the 2012 Olympics because he broke the other leg

CNN  — 

The Olympics for French gymnast Samir Ait Said ended in brutal fashion Saturday when he suffered a broken left leg while vaulting during the men’s team qualifications.

It was the kind of injury that made spectators hurriedly look away and caused teammates to bury their heads.

French gymnastics officials tweeted that he fractured his tibia and fibula and would have surgery as soon as possible.

They said he thanked fans for their support and would be back to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Said landed awkwardly after doing two backward flips off the vault.

According to USA Today, the leg breaking made a sharp crack that could be heard throughout the venue.

Samir Ait Said receives medical attention after breaking his leg while competing on the vault.
Samir Ait Said receives medical attention after breaking his leg while competing on the vault.
Scott Halleran/Getty Images

As Said grabbed around his knee and looked up at his lower left leg, he saw it flop unnaturally to the side. The 26-year-old covered his face with his right hand and was silent, perhaps too in shock to scream.

He was taken off on a stretcher, giving a wave to the crowd as he was carried away.

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    • “It is very difficult for the team. He was one of the friendliest on the team which is very difficult – he came to win a medal and gave everything 200 percent,” team leader Corrine Moustard-Callon told reporters.

    It is not Said’s first major injury after a vault.

    He missed the 2012 Olympics because he fractured his right leg in three places at the European Championships, according to the NBC Olympics website.

    CNN’s Elwyn Lopez and Matias Grez contributed to this report.