A jaw-dropping moment unfolded during the World Aquatics Championship when a 25-year-old artistic swimmer, Anita Alvarez, fainted in the pool. The terrifying incident could have ended tragically if not for the quick and heroic actions of her coach, Andrea Fuentes.
Alvarez had just wrapped up her solo free routine in Budapest when the unexpected happened. She lost consciousness and sank to the bottom of the pool, leaving the crowd and her teammates frozen in shock.
But Fuentes wasn’t about to stand by. Fully clothed, the four-time Olympic artistic swimming medalist dove straight into the water. With incredible composure, she pulled Alvarez to the surface and ensured she could breathe again.
Rapid rescue.@AFP photographers Oli Scarff and Peter Kohalmi capture the dramatic rescue of USA's Anita Alvarez from the bottom of the pool when she fainted during the women's solo free artistic swimming finals at the Budapest 2022 World Aquatics Championships pic.twitter.com/8Y0wo6lSUn
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 23, 2022
With the help of others, Fuentes carefully brought Alvarez to the edge of the pool, where medical personnel were ready to step in. Team USA later reassured fans through social media, confirming Alvarez was stable and recovering well.
“Anita is OK,” Fuentes shared in a statement. “Doctors checked all her vitals—heart rate, oxygen, sugar levels, blood pressure—and everything is normal.”
This wasn’t the first time Alvarez had faced such a scary ordeal. Just last year, during an Olympic qualifier in Barcelona, Fuentes had to jump into action when Alvarez fainted mid-competition.
The recent incident, however, sparked concern from Fuentes over the slow reaction of the lifeguards on duty. “It was terrifying. I had to jump in because the lifeguards weren’t reacting,” she told Marca, a Spanish newspaper.
“I was shouting for help, but no one understood or acted quickly enough. It felt like an eternity. She wasn’t breathing, and I did everything as if it were an Olympic final,” Fuentes added.
Thankfully, Alvarez is now in good spirits and under medical supervision. “She feels good now,” Fuentes said. “Tomorrow, she’ll rest, and then we’ll decide if she can compete in the team finals.”
Alvarez, a two-time USA Synchro Athlete of the Year, has been a fierce competitor throughout her career. Though her performance this time landed her in seventh place, her resilience shines through.
Fuentes reflected on the incident with a message that resonates far beyond the pool: “We push our limits in this sport, just like in marathons or cycling. Sometimes, we find those limits. But in those moments, we rise together.”
This extraordinary story is a powerful reminder of the courage, camaraderie, and unwavering support that define both sports and humanity. Would you dive in to save someone like Andrea Fuentes did? Share your thoughts—and her heroic story—with your friends!
