Additional Coverage:
- Gymnast projected to make 2028 Olympic Games dies after training accident in Russia (abcnews.go.com)
Indonesian Gymnast Naufal Takdir Al Bari Dies Following Training Injury
LONDON – Indonesian men’s gymnast Naufal Takdir Al Bari, 19, passed away on Thursday after sustaining a neck injury during a training session, the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation confirmed.
Al Bari was participating in a training camp in Penza, Russia, when the incident occurred. According to Russian staff quoted by state media, he fell awkwardly into a foam pit while practicing on the high bar. The young athlete was subsequently hospitalized and spent 12 days in intensive care before succumbing to his injuries.
A promising talent, Al Bari had been training to compete in this year’s Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, which are scheduled to be held in Indonesia. He was also considered a strong contender to qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Ita Yuliati, Chair of Indonesian Gymnastics, expressed profound sorrow over the loss. “[Al Bari] was a talented young athlete and a good person.
Indonesian gymnastics has lost one of the nation’s finest sons. This is a deep blow and sorrow for us,” Yuliati stated.
“May the family be given strength.”
The Russian Gymnastics Federation announced it had conducted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Indonesian athlete’s death. Vasily Titov, Vice President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, conveyed his condolences to the Indonesian federation.
“We will certainly provide assistance, if necessary, in the shipment and repatriation of the body,” Titov told TASS, the Russian state news agency. “We sent our condolences to the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation today, informed them of what happened, and we have done everything that needed to be done.”
Regarding the investigation, Titov added, “We conducted the necessary investigation, and all the circumstances surrounding the injury have been established. Unfortunately, the athlete was not prepared to perform such a complex element.”
Gymnastics officials did not disclose the specific element Al Bari was attempting at the time of the incident.