The World Aquatics Championships narrowly avoided tragedy on Wednesday after artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez fainted following her routine in Budapest, Hungary.
United States representative Alvarez, 25, lost consciousness immediately after her artistic routine in the solo free final and sank to the bottom of the pool. Quick-thinking coach Andrea Fuentes leapt in to save her star before another male swimmer came to lend a hand.
Fuentes' first priority was to get Alvarez's face above the surface before moving her out of the water, and the stricken swimmer soon regained consciousness after receiving medical attention by the pool before being taken away on a stretcher.
