Indonesian Gymnast Naufal Takdir Al Bari Dies in Training accident
JAKARTA,Indonesia – Naufal Takdir Al Bari,a rising star in Indonesian artistic gymnastics and a potential competitor in the 2028 Los angeles Olympics,has died following a training accident at the Palace of Sport Training Center in Burtasy,Russia. He was 16 years old.
Al Bari was training with four other national artistic gymnasts and two coaches since September 1, preparing for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 19-25.
The Russian gymnastics Federation conducted an investigation into the incident, concluding that “the athlete was not prepared to perform such a complex element,” according to Vice President Vasily Titov in a report by ABC news.
Ita Yuliati, chairman of Indonesian Gymnastics, described Al Bari as “a talented young athlete and a good person,” adding, ”Indonesian gymnastics has lost one of the nation’s finest sons. This is a deep blow and sorrow for us.May the family be given strength.”
Al Bari made his major international debut three months ago at the Asian Championships in South Korea, competing on floor exercise and pommel horse. The Indonesian Gymnastics Federation remembered Al Bari on instagram, stating, “May every step we take…be a tribute to his spirit, so that this venue becomes…a place where dreams are celebrated and history is made.”
Al Bari’s death is the latest in a series of tragic incidents in the sport. In July 2025, Italian gymnast Lorenzo Bonicelli, 23, was placed in a medically induced coma after a fall during the World University Games and later transferred to a spinal unit.In May 2021, Severine Djala Abak, 21, of Cameroon, died after a fall from the uneven bars. Soviet star Elena Mukhina suffered a paralyzing neck injury while training before the 1980 Olympics.
