Slovakian swimmer collapses poolside after race at Paris Olympics
Tamara Potocka was given medical attention at La Defense Arena following the women’s 200m individual medley
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Swimmer Tamara Potocka collapsed poolside in the morning session at La Defense Arena in the Olympics.
The Slovakian completed the third women's 200m individual medley qualifying heat at Paris 2024, finishing seventh.
But Potocka then needed first aid and was carried off on a stretcher, leading to the fourth, including Great Britain's Freya Colbert, being delayed by several minutes.
Potocka, who finished in a time of 2mins 14.20secs to miss out on the semi-finals of the event, was given an oxygen mask and attended to close to the starting blocks, with the 15,000 crowd left momentarily silent.
But as Potocka was taken away on a stretcher, the crowd delivered a round of applause.
Potocka collapsed as she got out of the water and almost immediately was surrounded by a half-dozen medical attendants.
The 21-year-old was conscious, according to medical staff poolside, but it was not clear if she received CPR.
“Tamara has asthma,” Slovakia’s team leader Ivana Lange said in a statement. “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,”
“She received oxygen and necessary medication, her condition is constantly monitored. A few minutes ago, the doctor told me that she must be monitored for several more hours.”
Additional reporting from agencies
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments