FINA Announces Artistic Swimmer Anita Alvarez Will Not Compete in Team Final After Fainting During Solo Competition
FINA has announced that U.S. artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez will not compete in the team final at the 2022 World Championships.
Alvarez lost consciousness during the her routine in the solo free final in Budapest earlier in the week. Coach Andrea Fuentes leapt in the pool to rescue her.
Alvarez was treated pool side and take away on a stretcher. She has lost consciousness in the pool before, needing to be rescued during an Olympic qualification event in 2021.
“Anita is much better, she is already at her best,” Fuentes told sporting newspaper Marca. “It was a good scare, to be honest. I jumped into the water again because I saw that no one, no lifeguard, was jumping in. I got a little scared because she wasn’t breathing, but now she’s fine. She has to rest.”
The world governing body released this statement:
“Earlier today FINA convened a meeting that included three representatives of FINA’s Sports Medicine Committee, the FINA Executive Director, the Team USA doctor, the Team USA team leader and the President of USA Artistic Swimming.
“The meeting lasted an hour. Following these discussions, FINA determined that Anita Alvarez should not compete today. The health and safety of athletes must always come first. While FINA understands why this decision will have been disappointing to the athlete, it was a decision that was made with her best interests in mind. FINA is delighted that Anita Alvarez has already made such a strong recovery, and looks forward to seeing her in competition again soon.”
Appears to be shallow water blackout. Were it not for the quick actions of her coach she may not have survived.