Team USA Basketball forward Paul George is hoping to meet with injured French Olympic Gymnast Samir Air Said, according to USA Today. Said had shattered his leg in an Olympic competition this past Saturday, similarly to how Paul George shattered his in 2014.
Following from Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today:
U.S. Olympic basketball player Paul George is trying to set up a meeting with injured French gymnast Samir Ait Said. George has a level of empathy that most people don’t.
Two summers ago in a scrimmage before the FIBA World Cup, the Indiana Pacers star sustained a compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula. He missed almost all of the 2014-15 season but returned to All-NBA level in 2015-16. He is playing in his first Olympics in Rio and had 15 points in USA’s win vs. China on Saturday.
It was his idea to meet with Said, according to USA Basketball spokesperson Craig Miller
Unlike others, George has gone through what Samir Ait Said is going through. He understands the process, how upsetting and unbelievable the situation is.
After the incident, Said released a video saying he’ll still be watching the rest of the Olympics, rooting on for the French from afar. Much like George, Said is already looking forward to the next opportunity to represent his country.
“He has been in contact to say that he will be back,” French gymnastic journalist Anouk Corge of L’Equipe told Martin Rogers of USA TODAY Sports. “He says he will be back stronger than ever for Tokyo in four years time.
Team USA forward Paul George has seen this all before, and he aims to discuss it with Samir Ait Said sometime in the near future.
