Before losing consciousness at the end of her final solo free swim, Anita Alvarez, the American artistic swimmer, recalled the last moments of sinking to the bottom of the pool in Budapest, Hungary. Thankfully, her coach Andrea Fuentes jumped in fully-clothed and dragged her to safety.
Alvarez, who finished in 7th place, expressed, “I recall sensing that it was an exceedingly splendid display. Similar to, my finest one by a long shot and not solely in terms of my execution, but also in terms of the sheer enjoyment and true presence in the moment. Therefore, due to this, I am genuinely joyful and immensely proud.”
Olympic swimmer Anita Alvarez was rescued by her coach Andrea Fuentes after fainting during the world aquatics championships.
Anita tells @MiguelNBC about the last thing she remembers before the incident.
Watch more from our interview with the pair tonight at 6:30 ET / 5:30 CT. pic.twitter.com/EfLb0jLp4I
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) June 23, 2022
I actually remember something from last night that made me feel great. Oh, uh, it’s kind of like, you know, just going down memory lane. And then I remember that I did something really silly. But it was such a simple and small gesture, like, I gave a high-five. And at the end, I still remember it very vividly.
During her performance, the American artistic squad attributed the state of unconsciousness to the level of exertion she put in. According to Fuentes, medical staff assisted her in regaining consciousness after Alvarez stopped breathing for approximately two minutes.
The 25-year-old Alvarez, who idolized Fuentes, grew up in Spain and is a four-time Olympic medalist. Last year, during an Olympic qualification event, Alvarez saved Fuentes from drowning. This was not the first time such a situation had unfolded for Alvarez.
Alvarez expressed his deep appreciation for Fuentes, stating, “I frequently convey this sentiment to her and others, as I am truly thankful to have her as our coach.” “I was completely taken aback when I discovered that she would be joining our team as a coach.”
When lifeguards noticed that the staff were not abiding by the strict FINA rules, Merkely Bela, acting on the advice of local media, made the decision to intervene and jump in, said Alvarez.
Merkeley stated that according to the regulations, individuals from the panel of judges assigned by FINA have the authority to enter the pool as a signal that a competition program might need to be halted because of an unforeseen event. During Wednesday’s final, no such indication was given by the judges, and regardless of whether a coach signals to them, they are prohibited from interfering. Recognizing the potential peril, the local lifeguards made the decision to promptly intervene, resulting in the American competitor ultimately exiting the pool with their assistance. Following that, the coach took it upon herself to jump into the pool, assuming the associated risk.
Alvarez said that she could still participate in the final free team event on Friday. Hours later, she returned to the competition after being rescued the last time she fainted.