US swimmer Anita Alvarez may compete again at World Championships after dramatic pool rescue
- Anita Alvarez took to Instagram to say she was ‘OK and healthy’ and hinted she may yet compete again at World Championships
- Heart-stopping images of Alvarez’s coach diving into the pool to rescue her were shared around the world
Artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez, who fainted and sank to the bottom of the pool during the Fina World Championships on Wednesday, said she was “feeling much better” and may still compete again in the event.
The 25-year-old two-time Olympian took to Instagram to thank supporters for their messages, but said she still had a job to finish in Budapest.
“Thank you everyone. I appreciate all the messages of support and hope everyone can respect that my team and I still have two more days of competition to be focused on here in Budapest. I have a job to finish and I hope everyone can understand that,” Alvarez posted. “In the meantime know that I am OK and healthy.”
Heart-stopping images of Team USA’s head coach Andrea Fuentes leaping in to rescue Alvarez from the bottom of the pool were shared around the world on Thursday.
Fuentes said fainting was “actually pretty common” for artistic swimmers, and that it can happen “many times” during training.
In an interview for the Olympic Games’ Instagram, Fuentes she said “saw it almost before it happened” after noticing that Alvarez’s feet were going pale.
“I’m used to seeing them every day,” Fuentes said. “I see them more than my kids. We train together eight hours a day, I know them very well.
“As you could see, there’s the moment where she finishes – instead of going up and staying, she went down.
USA Artistic Swimming issued a statement saying Alvarez had recovered well and was being monitored by medical staff.
“Watching yesterday’s medical emergency of 2x Olympian Anita Alvarez was heartbreaking for our community,” the team posted on Instagram. “Anita gave an exceptional solo performance and has competed brilliantly in four preliminary and three final competitions across six days of the 2022 Fina World Championship event.
“Anita has been evaluated by medical staff and will continue to be monitored. She is already feeling much better and using today to rest. Whether or not she will compete in the free team final [on Friday] will be determined by expert medical staff.
