Slovakian swimmer collapses after Olympic event and is stretchered away in worrying scenes
A Slovakian Olympic swimmer has collapsed after competing in the women's 200-metre individual medley.
Tamara Potocka, 21, was carried away from the pool on a stretcher and was put on an oxygen mask on Friday (2 August) morning at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Potocka finished seventh in the third heat of the event in Paris when she collapsed as she got out of the water.
She was immediately surrounded by medics.
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After her collapse, one commentator said: "This doesn't look good...15,000 people are now watching an athlete surrounded by medical staff and I can assure you it's absolutely silent in here.
"They've got a stretcher out, they've got an oxygen mask on the athlete, and I'm going to say... this looks very serious.
"They've got the neck brace around so I can only imagine that someone has hit their head and has some kind of trauma - they want to immobilise the athlete.
"We hope that there's nothing more than that..."
Meanwhile, the venue's media manager said that Potocka was conscious and under medical assessment.
Athlete taken off on backboard and apparently getting oxygen. pic.twitter.com/reFmN7kM4J
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) August 2, 2024
It currently remains unclear if she received CPR.
Fans were sending their well-wishes on social media, as one person wrote: "Praying for 21-year-old Slovakian swimmer Tamara Potocka, who collapsed at the side of the pool following the women's 200-meter individual medley in Paris."
The young swimmer is competing at her first ever Olympics and is backed by her Olympic coach Milos Bozik.
The Slovakian athlete currently holds the Slovakian record for the 50m butterfly and the 200m individual medley.
Women's 200-metre individual medley - heat 3 results:
1) S. McIntosh - Canada 2:09.90
2) Y. Yu - China 2:10.28
3) E. Ramsay - Australia 2:10.75
4) A. Wood - Great Britain 2:10.95
5) C. Bonnet - France 2:11.47
6) E. Carrasco - Spain 2:11.54
7) T. Potocka - Slovakia 2:14.20
8) D. Sebestyen Hungary 2:15.16
Anish Vij