French gymnast says his leg is 'solid' one year after scary injury in Rio

A year after breaking his leg at the Rio Olympics, French gymnast Samir Aït Saïd has recovered and is training for the world championships.

Aït Saïd's injury drew worldwide attention after the suffered a compound fracture, breaking his tibia and fibula, vaulting in Rio on Aug. 6, 2016.

In a video tweeted by the International Olympic Committee, Aït Saïd showed his recovery in the year since.

“My leg is solid,” he said in the video in a clip from last week. “It’s strong.”

Aït Saïd’s injury was a big story early in the Games, thanks largely to the horrific nature of it.

His left leg snapped on his vault landing, with the sharp crack able to be heard throughout the arena. As he rolled over, his foot and the lower half of his shin dangled in the opposite direction of the rest of his leg.

Aït Saïd had surgery immediately in Rio, and he visited France House needing only crutches later during the Games.

The Olympics video shows Aït Saïd’s work since Rio, including work on balance and strength of his injured leg.

Aït Saïd said he is training for gymnastics world championships, which begin on Sept. 27 in Montreal. He reiterated what he said following his injury in Rio — he wants to be back for another Games.

“When you believe in your dreams, they usually come true,” he said. “Believe me, I will battle endlessly to reach my objectives. And become, I hope, an Olympic champion at Tokyo 2020. And why not Paris 2024 as well?”