NANTERRE, France – Slovakian swimmer Tamara Potocka collapsed poolside on Friday morning after a qualifying heat of the women’s 200 meter individual medley at the Paris Olympics. She received first aid and was then taken away on a stretcher.
Potocka, 21, was seen wearing an oxygen mask as she was taken for medical attention. Medical staff at the pool said she was conscious.
Potocka passed out upon exiting the water and was almost immediately surrounded by half a dozen medical attendants who placed her on a stretcher after about a minute and carried her off the pool deck.
It was unclear whether she received CPR.
Israeli swimmer Lea Polonsky, who swam two heats after Potocka, said swimmers know their sport has inherent risks.
“Of course this is something you think about, but every day we try our best,” she added. “You always know something like this could happen. It’s not something you think about during the race, but it’s always there.”
This is Potocka’s first Olympics. She resides in the Slovak capital, Bratislava.
Potocka finished seventh in his heat with a time of 2 minutes, 14.20 seconds. Her time was not fast enough to advance to the semi-finals of the event, which eliminated her from the competition.
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