Gaël Da Silva competes on rings during the London 2012 Olympics.Gaël Da Silva competes on rings during the London 2012 Olympics.

Photo via KMSP/France Olympique.

Olympian Gael Da Silva died Tuesday morning in a car accident at the age of 41.

Da Silva represented France at the 2012 London Olympics and won bronze on floor – the apparatus he was best known for – at the European Championships that same year.

“Gaou” – as he was lovingly known – was recently seen at a French domestic meet. He started working for equipment provider Gymnova in 2025.

Da Silva leaves behind his wife, Camille, and their three children: Hugo (12), Jules (9), and Lou (6).

Jules is reportedly following in Da Silva’s footsteps and shown promise as a gymnast.

Watch Da Silva’s floor routine from qualifying at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo below. He scored a 15.100.