OLYMPIAN'S LEG BREAK HORROR Rio 2016: French gymnast suffers horror leg break which leaves Olympic dream smashed to pieces

A FRENCH gymnast’s Olympic dream was shattered as he suffered a gruesome leg break while vaulting during team preliminaries on Saturday.

Samir Ait Said, 26, landed awkwardly after jumping, leaving his left leg bent with the bone seemingly out of place.

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS

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French gymnast suffered gruesome leg break which shattered his Olympic dreams

GETTY IMAGES

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France team-mate Danny Pinheiro is in distress after seeing his friend's broken leg

A harrowing, crunching sound can be heard as he hits the mat.

Said writhed in agony as a team of medical officials rushed to aid the gymnast.

The French athlete was carried off on a stretcher, any plans of placing taken with him.

Said's nightmare injury came just minutes after Germany's Andreas Toba crocked his knee during floor exercise.

Toba quit his routine and needed to be helped off by his trainers but managed to compete on pommel horse before exiting to receive medical attention.

At London 2012, USA 4 x 400 metre relay runner Manteo Mitchell broke his left fibula - but did not discover this until AFTER running 200 metres.

REUTERS

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Samir Ait Said landed awkwardly after vaulting and saw his leg bent out of place

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The gymnast was stretchered off by medical officials after the break