Former French Olympic gymnast Gaël Da Silva died in a car accident at age 41 on Tuesday, May 26, the French Gymnastic Federation confirmed in a post via Instagram.
No further information about Da Silva’s death has been made available. French outlet L’Équipe was first to report the news.
Da SIlva, nicknamed Gaou, competed for France in the 2012 London Olympics, helping his team finish eighth in the team final. He also finished tenth in the qualification round for men’s floor exercise.
He is survived by his wife, former gymnast Camille Schmutz, and children Hugo, 12, Jules, 9, and Lou, 6. Camille, 37, competed for France at the 2004 Summer Games.
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“A prominent figure in French men’s artistic gymnastics, Gaël Da Silva has devoted his life to his sport with passion, demand and generosity,” the French Gymnastics Federation wrote in French via Instagram alongside a photo of Gaël on Wednesday, May 27. “Triple champion of France on floor (2008, 2011, 2012), he also excelled internationally with two bronze medals at the Internationaux de France de Paris-Bercy.”
The post continued, “Thank you Gaël, for your journey, your smile and everything you brought to French gymnastics.”
The caption also included a statement from federation president Dominique Mérieux.
“The brutal [loss] of Gaël Da Silva plunges French gymnastics into immense sadness,” she said. “I’ve had the chance to see a passionate, generous young man, deeply attached to his sport, grow. [An] Olympian and member of the French Team for many years, Gaël leaves the memory of a talented, passionate and deeply appreciated gymnast.”
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The statement continued, “My thoughts go first and foremost to his wife, Camille Schmutz, their three young children, as well as to his parents Michèle and Christian, and all his relatives. French gymnastics loses today a great champion and a man of [heart], gone much too soon.”
Though Da Silva was an accomplished gymnast, his career was hampered by injuries and bad luck. An injured knee kept him from the 2004 Summer Games in Athens and just weeks later, he was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle.
“From my hospital bed, I saw the gym slipping away, but I didn’t want to stop there,” he said at the time, per L’Equipe. “Without it, I don’t know what I would have done with my life. That’s what motivated me to get out of there quickly.”
Four months after the accident, he was back in the gym, though L’Équipe notes he was “barely” able to walk at the time.
“I’m a little crazy,” Da Silva admitted.
