Gymnasts worldwide are pushing their bodies to the limit as the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships approach, but tragedy has struck the Indonesian team. A young gymnast preparing for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia, next month, and a 2028 Summer Olympics hopeful has unfortunately passed away.

Indonesian gymnast Naufal Takdir Al Bari passed away on September 25, 2025, due to a severe neck injury. The 19-year-old was in a national team training camp held at Burtasy Sports Training Center in Penza,  Russia, where he attempted a skill on the horizontal high bar and landed awkwardly in a foam pit. He remained in intensive care for twelve days in the G.A. Zakharyin Hospital. However, despite the best efforts, the young talent could not be saved.

Ita Yuliati, Chair of Indonesian Gymnastics, prayed for the young talent, saying, “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we shall return. Naufal was a talented young athlete and a good person. Indonesian Gymnastics has lost one of the nation’s finest.” Yuliati prayed for Naufal’s family to be granted strength. FIG also mourned the tragic loss of the gymnast on X. “The FIG extends its deepest condolences following the tragic passing of Naufal Takdir Al Bari 🇮🇩. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and the entire Indonesian gymnastics community during this incredibly difficult time 🕊️ 🤍” the tweet read.

The gymnastics world could not say anything more than “🤍🕊 rest in peace“. The Russian Gymnastics Federation confirmed that they had investigated the tragic death. They also offered support to help with the repatriation of the body and made sure to inform the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation about what happened, taking all necessary steps to handle the situation with care. “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,” Vice President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation Vasily Titov said.

Heartbreakingly, this is the second time in just four years that the gymnastics world has lost a young elite athlete during training. In May 2021, 21-year-old Séverine Djala Abaka from Cameroon tragically died after a fall from the uneven bars caused a fatal neck injury. At the University Games in July, Italy’s Lorenzo Bonicelli also had a terrifying fall from rings, resulting in a severe neck injury, but he is out of danger as of now. The passing of young Naufal has left the gymnastics world in mourning.

Gymnastics World prays and mourns for the 19-year-old talent

One user stated, “So sad to hear this. It reminds me of when Dylan Hart from Wisconsin passed away; these losses hit the community so hard. My heart goes out to his family.” These tragic untimely deaths do weigh heavily on the community. Many people have also been praying for the family of the young gymnast.

One comment read, “Praying for his family, fly high sweet boy 🤍🕊” while another one said, “I am so saddened by the news. My condolences to his family, teammates, friends, and fans. 😢”. The gymnastics world mourns the loss of a young life, and the grief of parents who have lost their 19-year-old son is unimaginable. No parent should ever have to endure the death of their child. Another comment read, “The world has lost one of its finest young talents🥀“. Where’s the lie?

The 19-year-old had just stepped on the international mat three months ago, competing in both the floor exercise and pommel horse events at the 2025 Senior Asian Championships in Jecheon, South Korea. He scored 11.000 in the floor exercise, placing 41st, and 9.133 in the pommel horse, placing 44th. His total combined score across both events was 20.133. He was already an Olympics hopeful and is a big loss to not just Indonesia but all of the gymnastics world.

With less than three weeks until the global gymnastics community arrives in Jakarta, the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation faces an event unlike any other. The loss of Al Bari hangs over the championships for them, leaving a quiet sadness that touches everyone involved. The gymnastics world is in no better condition. Rest in peace Naufal Takdir Al Bari.