The Paris Olympics women’s 200-meter individual medley ended with an alarming note when Tamara Potocka suddenly collapsed. The 21-year-old Slovakian swimmer finished in seventh place during the qualifying heat and ended up on the floor right after getting out of the pool. This is Tamara’s first time competing at the Olympics.
Ivana Lange of Team Slovakia spoke to reporters about the incident after Tamara was given immediate medical assistance at the scene.
“Tamara has asthma,” Ivana pointed out, according to several outlets. “This whole combination of nervous and physical tension while she did not have her inhaler immediately available to use contributed to the creation of this problem.”
Swimmer Tamara Potocka was seen sitting poolside for a few seconds in clear distress, even as swimmers lined up for the next heat.
Organisers realised something was wrong and postponed the next swim as medical staff descended on the scene.
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Slovakia Olympic Committee spokesperson Lubomír Souček later confirmed, “They transferred [Tamara] to the hospital in the Olympic Village, and our team doctor is waiting for her there,” per the Associated Press.
Upon collapsing, medical professionals raced toward Tamara and carried her away on a stretcher. It’s unclear if they needed to administer CPR to the swimmer, but multiple outlets reported that she was conscious and able to communicate with doctors. As the frightening ordeal unfolded, the arena fell silent while staff assisted the athlete.
Following the incident, Israeli swimmer Lea Polonsky spoke to reporters about the “limit” that Olympians push themselves toward.
