US artistic swimmer rescued from drowning by her coach

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – US artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez was saved from drowning by her coach Andrea Fuentes during the Budapest 2022 World Aquatics Championships on Wednesday.

Alvarez, 25, might have drowned in the pool during the women's solo free final after losing consciousness and plunging to the bottom.

Fuentes, a former Spanish synchronized swimmer, jumped into the pool before the lifeguards to pull Alvarez to the surface.

Alvarez was later carried on a stretcher to a hospital, where doctors say she is fine.

"What a day!!!... I think I had all kind of possible emotions! It’s late at night and just wanted to say thank you for all your messages. I’m so happy you enjoyed our choreographies and we cannot wait to show a better performance at finals.

"Anita’s solo was so good too, it was her best performance ever, she just pushed through her limits and she found them but Anita is ok and the doctors also said she is fine. We all know it happens in other sports: cycling, marathon, track and field… some don’t make it to the final line and some even finish crawling or passing out. Our sport is very hard too. Now it’s time to rest and recover," Fuentes said on Instagram.

Previously, in 2021, Alvarez collapsed at an Olympic qualifier in Barcelona, and Fuentes rescued her as well.

Alvarez scored 87.6333 points for her routine to come seventh in the solo free final.

The world championships in the Hungarian capital will end on July 3.