US coach makes dramatic rescue of artistic swimmer at worlds

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Only her quick reaction prevented a tragedy as Andrea Fuentes made a dramatic rescue.

The United States coach knew something was wrong when she saw artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez sink motionless to the bottom of the pool during a solo free routine at the world aquatics championships on Wednesday.

The fully clothed Fuentes dived in. She swam to the unresponsive Alvarez, put her arms around her, and lifted her to the water’s surface, where another person helped get her out of the pool.

Alvarez, a two-time Olympian, had fainted.



Anita Alvarez of United States, center, is taken from the pool after collapsing during the solo free final of the artistic swimming at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/sports-hungary-aquatics-artistic-swimming-def451647e06e36b121842e1c880a27f

[oldsoftie]

1. They don't have safety people already IN the water for events like this??

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Not necessary. It's a pool. People are all around. Proof is that she was rescued

It's actually faster to run around the pool and dive in at the closest point than it is to swim from one part of the pool to another.

Fainting during competitions is rare, very rare. I've never heard of it happening but it surely has before. Still rare.

Artistic swimming is not the Mixed Martial Arts of aquatics. It's more like post #5.

[milestogo]

13. They do, but the guard didn't seem to notice it as quickly as the coach.

[stopdiggin]

2. dramatic! and completely unexpected.

top level athlete ... Betting this woman spend hours (alone) at practice in a pool over the years.

[IronLionZion]

3. People mock the Olympics for having lifeguards

there are many opportunities to get injured, hit one's head, get disoriented, or pass out for various reasons.

[AverageOldGuy]

4. True story:

I'm a paramedic in rural VA. Years ago, we were called to home where boy (11 as I recall) had been pulled from family pool not breathing. Family started CPR, another medic was on the scene in minutes with an AED. We were able to resuscitate the young fellow.

Cardiologist discovered he had a congenital heart defect, never before detected. Turns out, he had been holding his breath to see how long he could stay under. Oxygen depletion coupled with the heart defect almost killed him. After two surgeries to correct the heart defect, he was healthy, normal kid.

Lets hope this young lady is seen by a cardiologist . . . could be a similar situation . . . undiagnosed weak heart, exertion, holding her breath causing oxygen depletion . . .

[StarryNite]

9. Just like heart conditions that

cause people to drop in other sports. Long QT came to my mind when I read this. Heart conditions can go in diagnosed until a big event happens and then sometimes it’s too late.

[zuul]

10. That's one lucky kid.

[jeffreyi]

12. Acc to BBC, this is the 2nd time

That young lady has had that issue. Something does not seem right. Hope she gets it attended to.

[jaxexpat]

5. Probably suffering effects from the yesterday's grueling freestyle oil painting.

Oil painting being the most dreaded leg of the artistic triathlon which includes, in addition to the emotionally crippling oil painting, the 2-ton marble technical "chiseling" challenge of Bruce Jenner's transformation and the finger-breaking "mile-of-macrame" sprint. "I don't see how she could swim at all with her fingers in those casts", said one bystander.

[Wicked Blue]

6. LOLOL

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. Will anyone surpass the Van Gogh marathon prize?

900 paintings in ten years. Painters, start your brushes.

[jaxexpat]

19. It will be hard, I think.

But P. Gauguin's Topless Tahitian Triple Technical, the infamous Polynesian double TT, is still figure skating's most dangerous challenge and a pretty darn good drink too, in my post-impressionist opinion.

[iluvtennis]

8. Thank you Coach Fuentes. n/t

[The Jungle 1]

11. Was on vacation once...

We were climbing a water fall. It was a tourist outing. A man had what I think was a heart attack and he was slipping under the water. Whole crowd of people and they all just stood there. Well except my wife and I. The tour attendants then got involved and handled it.
Another time I was on an mountain biking outing with some Boy Scouts. It was hot. We took a break and a kid came up to me and said. Billy is sick. I went over and the tour attendants were around him but doing nothing. The kid was clearly going into heat stroke. I watched for a minute and took over. Put him is some shade and dumped water on his head, made him drink. He came around in no time. I pulled the tour guide aside and let him know he screwed up. He was only in his early twenties. Also made all the boys drink a bottle of water. Then we had a first aid lesson.
What I am saying is do something. Don't watch.

[packman]

14. Please someone tell me what "artistic" swimming is and why is it an athletic event?

I can do "Fat-man Waddling" and "Grumpy Old Fart Stumble and Mumble" to qualify in those events

[StarryNite]

15. I believe it's the same thing as synchronized swimming.

[LT Barclay]

16. because if you turn anything into a competition more people will watch.

I was joking about Olympic skating which while very athletic I would consider more entertainment than sport, so I used to say that people in the US would watch ballet if it was a competition, and now So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars are a thing.
If only I had been a producer!!

[jimlup]

17. Wow the pictures are frightening!

What a great save by her coach!