“Just stared” – sharp criticism after the drama at the swimming world championships
Trainer pulls unconscious US swimmer out of the water
Drama about Anita Alvarez: The US synchronized swimmer fainted after her freestyle at the World Championships in Budapest and was rescued from the pelvic floor by her trainer. Alvarez’s team has now given the all-clear.
A dramatic incident occurs at the swimming world championships. Synchronized swimmer Anita Alvarez sinks unconscious to the bottom. She is saved by her trainer. Then she chooses harsh words.
Nfter the dramatic incident involving a US athlete at the swimming world championships in Budapest, a trainer of the American team sharply criticized the safety precautions of the competition.
Synchronized swimmer Anita Alvarez fell unconscious in the pool on Wednesday immediately after her performance in the free solo freestyle. She was rescued by her trainer Andrea Fuentes and another person. The assistants only “gawped” and “didn’t react,” Fuentes complained in an interview with the Spanish trade newspaper “AS” on Thursday.
Alvarez sinks unconscious to the bottom, coach Fuentes comes to the rescue and…
Those: AFP / OLI SCARFF
… pulls her athlete up.
Those: AFP / OLI SCARFF
“When I saw her sink, I looked over at the rescuers but I saw that they were just staring and not reacting. I thought, ‘Are you going to jump in or not?’” Then she acted. “That’s how I am, I can’t just stare,” said the Spanish-born Fuentes, who was celebrated as a heroine by the media in her homeland.
“You had to put them aside”
The rescue operation was not easy, she emphasized. The rescuer, who jumped into the pool after a while, “didn’t really help much,” Fuentes explained: “You had to put her on her side so she couldn’t swallow water and breathe. He wanted to put her on her back and there was a little absurd fight about which position we should put her in.”
Half an hour after the incident, it was announced that Alvarez was doing well. The fainting spell was stress-related and was not the first of its kind. Fuentes announced on Instagram that Alvarez, in consultation with the doctors, was considering starting in the team final in the free program. She wanted to rest on Thursday, “and then decide with the doctor whether she can swim the team final in the free program or not,” said Fuentes.
