Indonesian Olympic hopeful gymnast dies after training accident in Russia
19-year-old Naufal Takdir Al Bari died after a 12-day ICU stay following a neck injury sustained during a high-bar training incident in Russia.
An Indonesian gymnast who hoped to represent his country at the Olympics has died after a training accident in Russia. Naufal Takdir Al Bari, 19, died after a 12-day stay in intensive care at GA Zakharyin Hospital, the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation said in a social media post. The federation said the teenager breathed his last after the prolonged hospitalization.
Al Bari reportedly sustained a serious neck injury after falling into a foam pit while training on the high bar, according to the Russian Gymnastics Federation’s social media post. The 19-year-old had been eyeing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and had been preparing for this year’s Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Indonesia, scheduled for October.
In a statement, Ita Yuliati, chairperson of the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation, described Al Bari as a talented young athlete, and a good figure. The federation said Indonesia has lost the nation’s best, calling the death a deep blow and extending condolences to his family.
An investigation by the Russian Gymnastics Federation concluded that Al Bari was ill-prepared for the training session. “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,” Vasily Titov, the federation’s vice president, said in a Telegram post. It remains unclear which specific stunt preceded the injury, and the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The incident comes as Indonesia prepares to host the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, scheduled to begin in October, and as athletes eye Olympic qualification for 2028. Al Bari’s death is a heavy blow for Indonesian gymnastics, underscoring the ongoing focus on athlete safety amid high-level training. The federation’s statement posted on social media expressed mourning and solidarity with his family as authorities review the circumstances surrounding the accident.