Yahoo Sports 2024 Paris Olympics: Tamara Potocká cites 'total exhaustion,' not asthma attack for collapse following women's 200m IM qualifying heat
Potocká wrote on Instagram that she wanted to 'leave my soul in the pool, and that actually happened'
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Tamara Potocká, a swimmer from Slovakia, is citing "total exhaustion" as the reason why she needed to be taken away from the pool at París La Défense Arena on a stretcher following Friday's qualifying heat for the women's 200-meter individual medley.
The 21-year-old Potocká did not advance in the event after finishing seventh in the race, which was won by Canada’s Summer McIntosh. As she got out of the water she fell to the ground before being surrounded by Paris Olympics medical staff. About a minute later she was carried off the pool deck on a stretcher and was seen wearing an oxygen mask while being taken away for medical attention.
Slovaki's team leader, Ivana Lange, told the media that Potocká has asthma and did not have her inhaler with her. That and the "combination of nervous and physical tension" was a factor in what happened.
Potocká posted a message on Instagram clarifying the situation saying that she did not suffer an asthma attack and wanted to "leave my soul in the pool, and that actually happened."
"I told myself that I would go all out and leave my soul in the pool, and that actually happened.😅 unfortunately, due to total exhaustion, I couldn’t leave on my own, so they had to carry me on a stretcher. 😬 no, I didn’t drop out or have an asthma attack‼️ I just couldn’t breathe and move my whole body. what do you think it feels like to be watched by 15,000 people? I wanted to do well so much, that I started too fast, but because I am a fighter and I didn’t want to give up, it caught up with me at the end of the track, because I wanted to squeeze everything out of myself.🥵 but that happens when an athlete reaches the very bottom of his strength, just to achieve the best possible result and please his loved ones.🫶🏽
anyway, I’m fine and I can finally say that I’m an OLYMPIAN!!
The heat that was scheduled for right after Potocká's incident was delayed, allowing medical staff to attend to the Slovakian swimmer.
Potocká, who is participating in her first Olympics, was a four-time finalist at the 2024 European Championships. The 200-meter individual medley is the only event she is taking part in at the Paris Games.
