Why Did US Swimmer Anita Alvarez Faint During World Championships

US artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez fainted at the end of her routine at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest. Alvarez had to be rescued from the bottom of the pool after she finished her solo free final performance. Four-time Olympic medallist Andrea Fuentes, who is also Alvarez’s coach swam down to rescue Alvarez.

“I saw her feet were a little more white than normal so I thought her blood was not going as normal. Normally when you finish what you really want to do is breathe but instead of going up, she was going down,” Fuentes told the BBC.

The USA swimming team later said that Alvarez was fine and resting. The team had released a statement from Fuentes stating that Alvarez had fainted due to exertion expended during her routine.

Alvarez had previously fainted during the Olympic qualification tournament while competing in her duet and has had sporadic issues with fainting, the team’s spokesperson said. Though Alvarez had never fainted during a competition before.

Vasovagal syncope, which is a drop in blood pressure or heart rate, low blood sugar, heart rhythm issues, dehydration, along with neurologic causes can be some of the reasons behind a sudden bout of unconsciousness, the Indian Express reporting quoting a doctor.

“Anita’s solo was so good, it was her best performance ever, she just pushed through her limits and she found them. But [she] is okay and the doctors also said she is fine. We all know it happens in other sports: cycling, marathon, track and field… some don’t make it to the final line and some even finish crawling or passing out. Our sport is very hard too. Now it’s time to rest and recover,” Fuentes added in her own Instagram post.

While Alvarez has been cleared by the medical staff at the end as well as the team’s own medical staff, she will be deciding whether she competes or not in the final event that she is to participate in.