Olympic Swimmer Collapses by the Pool After Race in Paris

Pro swimmer Tamara Potocka appears to have suffered a medical emergency after competing in her first-ever Olympic games in Paris on Friday, Aug. 2.

The Slovakian swimmer collapsed poolside after a qualifying heat of the 200-meter women's individual medley at the 2024 Summer Olympics. According to several outlets, the 21-year-old had just gotten out of the water when she passed out.

Potocka was quickly aided by dozens of medical personnel, who swarmed the star athlete and provided her with the oxygen mask she was seen wearing as she was carried off of the pool deck in a stretcher. Whether or not she received CPR remains unclear at this time, though those administering her first aid by the pool said she was conscious.

According to a statement from the Slovakian Olympic team, the cause of her collapse was an asthma attack. "She has since been given oxygen therapy and during the procedure has communicated," the team confirmed.

Potocka finished seventh in her heat with a time of 2 minutes, 14.20 seconds. Her laps were not fast enough to advance her to the semifinals of the event, and as a result, eliminated her from the rest of the competition.

Israeli swimmer Lea Polonsky told the Associated Press that emergencies like the one Potocka suffered are always "in the back of your mind" as an Olympic swimmer, noting the professionals "push ourselves to the limit" nearly every day.

“Of course that’s something in the back of your mind, but we do every day push ourselves to the limit,” she added. “You always know something like that can happen. It’s not something you think about during the race, but it’s always there.”

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