Samir Aït Saïd

Samir Aït Saïd
Aït Saïd at the 2016 Olympic Test Event
Personal information
Nickname(s)Sam
Born (1989-11-01) 1 November 1989 (age 34)
Champigny-sur-Marne, France
Height1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
LevelSenior International Elite
Years on national team2004 – present
ClubOlympique Antibes Juan les Pins Gymnastique
Head coach(es)Kévin Depuis
Former coach(es)Rodolphe Bouche
Eponymous skillsStill Rings: Roll backward slowly with straight arms and body to handstand through swallow
Medal record
Representing  France
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Stuttgart Rings
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Moscow Rings
Silver medal – second place 2010 Birmingham Rings
Silver medal – second place 2011 Berlin Vault
Silver medal – second place 2015 Montpellier Rings
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Birmingham Team
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Sofia Rings
Summer Universiade
Silver medal – second place 2011 Shenzhen Rings
FIG World Cup
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
World Cup 2 2 2
World Challenge Cup 3 4 0
Total 5 6 2

Samir Aït Saïd (born 1 November 1989)[1] is a French artistic gymnast.[2] He is the 2019 World bronze medalist and the 2013 European champion on the still rings. He is also a three-time European silver medalist and a two-time European bronze medalist. He represented France at the 2016 Summer Olympics, 2020 Summer Olympics, and the 2024 Summer Olympics. He was one of France's flagbearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

Personal life

[edit]

Aït Saïd was born on 1 November 1989 in Champigny-sur-Marne. He is of Kabyle descent, and he learned the Kabyle language to communicate with the part of his family that still lived in Algeria.[3] He began gymnastics when he was six years old.[4] His father, who was a bus driver, died in January 2019 due to lung cancer.[5][6] He has a daughter who was born in March 2021.[7]

Career

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Junior career

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Aït Saïd joined the French junior national team in 2004.[8] At the 2004 Junior European Championships, he won the bronze medal on the rings and placed fourth with the French team.[9] Then at the 2006 Junior European Championships, he won the gold medal on the rings, and he placed eighth with the French team.[10]

Senior career

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2009–2012

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Aït Saïd's first World Championships was in 2009, and he finished seventh in the rings final.[11] At the 2010 European Championships, he helped the French team win the bronze medal, and he won the silver medal on the rings behind Italy's Matteo Morandi.[12] He won the gold medal on the rings at the 2010 Paris World Cup.[13]

Aït Saïd won the silver medal on the vault at the 2011 European Championships behind his teammate Thomas Bouhail.[14] Then at the 2011 Summer Universiade, he won the silver medal on the rings behind Brazil's Arthur Zanetti.[15] He also finished second to Zanetti on the rings at the 2012 Osijek World Challenge Cup.[16]

Aït Saïd fractured his right tibia in three places at the 2012 European Championships during the team final, and he could not compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[17][5] He had surgery and missed six months of training.[4] He still attended the 2012 Olympics as a spectator.[7][18]

2013–2014

[edit]

At the 2013 European Championships, Aït Saïd tied for the gold medal on rings with Ukraine's Igor Radivilov.[19] He then won a silver medal on the rings at the 2013 Osijek World Challenge Cup behind Eleftherios Petrounias.[20] He placed sixth in the rings final at the 2013 World Championships.[21]

Aït Saïd won the bronze medal on the rings at the 2014 European Championships.[22] He also helped the French team place fifth in the team final.[23] He helped the French team win a 2014 friendly meet against Belgium and Spain with the highest scores on rings and vault.[24] At the 2014 World Championships, he placed fifth in the rings final.[25]

2015–2016

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Aït Saïd won the silver medal on the rings at the 2015 Ljubljana World Challenge Cup.[26] Then at the 2015 European Championships, he tied with Russia's Denis Ablyazin for the silver medal on the rings.[27] At the 2015 World Championships, he helped the French team finish 10th,[28] and he placed fourth in the rings final.[29]

At the 2016 Olympic Test Event, he helped France secure the final team berth for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[30] He helped the French team place sixth in the team final at the 2016 European Championships,[31] and he placed sixth in the rings final.[32] He then won the vault gold medal at the 2016 Anadia World Challenge Cup.[33] In the qualification round of the Olympic Games, Aït Saïd suffered a double compound fracture in his left leg while landing badly on the vault.[17][34] The volunteers carrying him out of the arena dropped the stretcher, but this did not cause further damage.[6] He had qualified for the still rings final, but he had to withdraw.[35] He had surgery the same day at the Samaritano Hospital.[36]

2017–2019

[edit]
Aït Saïd competing at the 2018 Paris World Challenge Cup

Aït Saïd returned to competition thirteen months later at the 2017 Paris World Challenge Cup and won the silver medal on the rings.[37] After this performance, he was selected to compete at the 2017 World Championships.[38] There, he finished in fourth place in the rings final, missing out on a medal by only 0.008.[39][6] He won the gold medal on the rings at the 2018 Paris World Challenge Cup.[40]

Aït Saïd placed sixth in the rings final at the 2019 European Championships,[41] and he finished fifth in the rings final at the 2019 European Games.[42] At the 2019 Paris World Challenge Cup, he tied for the gold medal on the rings with Egypt's Ali Zahran.[43] He won the bronze medal on the rings at the 2019 World Championships, his first World medal.[44] Because of this result, he qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games as an individual.[45]

2021–2024

[edit]

He was a French flag bearer in the opening ceremonies of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, and he performed a backflip after the French team walked in.[46][47] He injured his bicep during training, but he still competed despite his coach suggesting he withdraw.[7] During the qualification round, he competed a new skill that was named after him in the Code of Points.[48] He placed fourth in the still rings final, 0.300 points away from winning a medal.[7]

Aït Saïd finished fourth on the rings at the 2023 Paris World Challenge Cup.[49] He registered for the 2024 FIG World Cup series to attempt to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.[50] At the Cottbus World Cup, he won the silver medal on the rings.[51] Then at the Baku World Cup, he won the bronze medal on rings.[52] He also won the bronze medal on rings at the Doha World Cup.[53] With these results, he earned an individual berth for the 2024 Olympic Games.[54]

Eponymous skill

[edit]

Aït Saïd has a skill on the still rings that is named after him in the Code of Points.[55][48]

Apparatus Name Description Difficulty[a] Added to Code of Points
Still rings Ait Said Roll backward slowly with straight arms and body to handstand through swallow E 2020 Summer Olympics
  1. ^ Valid for the 2022–2024 Code of Points

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Samir Aït Saïd". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Paris Olympics 2024 Update: 34-Year-Old Gymnast Aims for Redemption 8 Years After Horrific Injury". EssentiallySports. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  3. ^ Achache, Farid (1 March 2016). "JO 2016: Samir Aït-Saïd, des anneaux et de l'or" [2016 Olympic Games: Samir Aït-Saïd, rings and gold]. Radio France Internationale (in French). Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Ait Said Samir". International Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Promise to father driving Ait Said's ambition". International Gymnastics Federation. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Rogers, Martin (23 July 2021). "Samir Ait Said's story of strength, perseverance and triumph". Fox Sports. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "An Olympic curse for French athlete? There's always Paris". Reuters. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Samir Aït Saïd". French National Olympic and Sports Committee (in French). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  9. ^ "26th Men's European Championships Artistic Gymnastics Ljubljana, Slovenia SLO April 15–18, 2004 Results Men's Junior" (PDF). European Gymnastics. pp. 26, 38. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  10. ^ "27th Men's European Artistic Gymnastics Team Championships Volos (GRE) 4 – 7 May 2006 Results Men's Juniors" (PDF). European Gymnastics. pp. 1, 24. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  11. ^ "41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships October 13–18, 2009 London (GBR) Results Men's Rings Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 17 October 2009. p. 3. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  12. ^ "29th European Artistic Gymnastics Team Championships Juniors and Seniors Birmingham (GBR) April 21st-April 25th 2010 Results" (PDF). European Gymnastics. pp. 13, 22. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Horton wins two bronze medals at World Cup". USA Gymnastics. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  14. ^ "4th European Artistic Gymnastics Individual Championships Berlin (GER), April 6th–10th 2011 Results Men's Vault Final" (PDF). European Gymnastics. 10 April 2011. p. 234. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Artistic Gymnastics Men's Rings Final" (PDF). Gymnastics Results. Shenzhen 2011. 16 August 2011.
  16. ^ "ART Grand Prix Osijek 2012 Chalenge cup CIII finals Rings" (PDF). Gymnastics Results. International Gymnastics Federation. 29 April 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Rio 2016: French gymnast Samir Ait Said suffers horrific broken leg in men's gymnastics qualifying". The Independent. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  18. ^ Wetzel, Dan (22 July 2021). "Five years after gruesome Olympic injury, French flag bearer set for triumph at Tokyo Opening Ceremony". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  19. ^ "SHARE 5th ECh in Artistic Gymnastics in Moscow: apparatus finals 1st part". European Gymnastics. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Individual Apparatus series winners determined in Osijek". International Gymnastics Federation. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  21. ^ "44th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp (BEL) Men's Apparatus Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 5 October 2013. p. 3. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Ablyazin, Russians lead the way as Europeans end". International Gymnastics Federation. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  23. ^ "31st European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Team Championships Seniors Team Final" (PDF). European Gymnastics. 24 May 2014. p. 203. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Dutch women, French men victorious at pre-Worlds Friendly in Rouen". International Gymnastics Federation. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  25. ^ "45th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Nanning (CHN) Men's Apparatus Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 11 October 2014. p. 3. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Final results – Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup Ljubljana, 3.-5. April 2015" (PDF). Gymnastics Results. International Gymnastics Federation. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Competition report: event finals day 1". European Gymnastics. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  28. ^ "46th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Glasgow (GBR) Men's Qualification" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 25 October 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  29. ^ "46th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Glasgow (GBR) Men's Apparatus Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 31 October 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Germany, Ukraine, Netherlands and France grab final men's team berths to Rio Olympic Games". International Gymnastics Federation. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  31. ^ "32nd European Championships in Men's Artistic Gymnastics Seniors and Juniors Senior Team Final" (PDF). European Gymnastics. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  32. ^ "32nd European Championships in Men's Artistic Gymnastics Seniors and Juniors Senior Apparatus Finals" (PDF). European Gymnastics. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Chinese, Saraiva shine at Anadia World Challenge Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  34. ^ Levy, Megan (7 August 2016). "Rio 2016: Gymnast Samir Ait Said suffers horrific leg break during vault". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  35. ^ Armour, Nancy (6 August 2016). "Scary injury: French gymnast Samir Ait Said snaps his leg on vault". USA Today. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  36. ^ "Samir Ait Said: 'Even amidst my misfortune, it was an extraordinary moment'". International Gymnastics Federation. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  37. ^ "En route for Montreal Worlds, stars of Gymnastics light up Internationaux de France". International Gymnastics Federation. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  38. ^ "Liberated after Rio leg injury, Samir Aït Saïd prepares World Championships return". International Gymnastics Federation. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Five world champions successfully defend their titles on day one of apparatus finals in Montreal". International Gymnastics Federation. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Host France take 5 golds at World Challenge Cup in Paris". International Gymnastics Federation. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  41. ^ "8th European Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics Individual Championships Men Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus Final" (PDF). European Gymnastics. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  42. ^ "2nd European Games Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus Final Men" (PDF). European Gymnastics. Minsk 2019. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  43. ^ "Eight nations grab gold at Paris World Challenge Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  44. ^ "More history made in Stuttgart as Biles ties all-time medal record". International Gymnastics Federation. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  45. ^ Zaccardi, Nick (12 October 2019). "French gymnast who broke leg at Rio Olympics qualifies for Tokyo after father's death". NBC Sports. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  46. ^ "Top moments from the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020". International Olympic Committee. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  47. ^ Armour, Nancy (24 July 2021). "After gruesome injury in Rio, French gymnast Samir Ait Said shows the power of the Olympics". USA Today. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  48. ^ a b "Newly named for their creators, these Men's elements are the opposite of elementary". International Gymnastics Federation. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  49. ^ "In a World Championship warmup, French gymnasts sizzle at Paris World Challenge Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  50. ^ "For Artistic gymnasts, the race to Paris picks up with this week's Cairo World Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  51. ^ "Champions in Cottbus! All the thrills from a World Cup weekend to remember". International Gymnastics Federation. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  52. ^ "Golden celebrations and Olympic qualifications: Who did what at the Baku World Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  53. ^ "The Doha decider: inside a doubly significant weekend in Artistic Gymnastics". International Gymnastics Federation. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  54. ^ "23 more Artistic gymnasts have earned Olympic berths! See who's headed to Paris here". International Gymnastics Federation. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  55. ^ "2022 – 2024 Code of Points Men's Artistic Gymnastics" (PDF). International Gymnastics Federation. p. 93. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
[edit]
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for  France
(with Clarisse Agbegnenou)
Tokyo 2020 		Succeeded by
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