The day after a first acrobatics performed during the opening ceremony, Samir Aït Saïd did not fail to be noticed once again.
This time, it was on an apparatus that the gymnast impressed.
In the rings, his favorite discipline, the flag bearer of the French delegation did a near-perfect exercise to clinch third place in qualifying and earn a place in the final.
With a score of 15.066 obtained this Saturday, he will start among the favorites.
Only China's Liu Yang, with 15.300 points and Greece's Eleftherios Petrounias, reigning Olympic champion, with 15.333 points, did better.
🇫🇷 The French flag bearer Samir Aït-Saïd performs a superb performance which sends him to the final!
▶ Follow the Olympics live: https://t.co/wuA7t8ktsS pic.twitter.com/KVVBJBObd1
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 24, 2021
" I am coming back from far.
I have struggled so much lately, he explained to the microphone of France Televisions at the end of his rotation.
I will do everything to get this medal.
I made a small mistake during my movement, but I have over a week to erase it.
There, I am third and I will do everything to grab a few more places in the Final.
"
"24 hours completely crazy"
“Lots of emotions” for the French gymnast, who proudly waved his daughter's “blanket” when getting her results.
"I spent 24 hours completely crazy," he added, only a few hours after guiding the French delegation alongside Clarisse Agbegnenou.
It must be said that the resident of the Antibes pole has come a long way.
During the last Olympic Games in Rio, in 2016, he left the jumping mat on a stretcher, suffering from a triple open fracture in his leg.
The day after his injury, from his hospital bed, he had promised that he would travel to Tokyo to win Olympic gold.
The first step has in any case been successfully taken.
To read alsoJO from Tokyo: "Coming back from injury does not make me a hero" ... Samir Aït Saïd, the salto of the resurrection
Samir Aït Saïd now has more than a week of rest and training to refine his sequence.
It will be to follow on Monday, August 2 during the final, at 10 a.m. (Paris time).