Swimmer who dramatically fainted during artistic routine banned from World Championships final

Her team have labelled the decision 'unfortunate'

Artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez will not be allowed to compete in the World Championships final on Friday after she fainted in the pool at the event on Wednesday.

Alvarez had been performing her solo routine at the event in Budapest when she fainted and had to be rescued from the bottom of the pool by her coach, Andrea Fuentes.

USA Artistic Swimming have since announced that the 25-year-old was not allowed to compete on Friday because of  international federation Fina's "athlete safety concerns".

They added that she is "doing well."

"Anita is healthy and has been evaluated extensively by a medical team," USA Artistic Swimming said.

"She is doing well and thankful to everyone for their support."

USA Artistic Swimming chief executive Adam Andrasko added: "Anita is a tremendous competitor and we could not be more proud of her.

"It is unfortunate that she will not have the opportunity to compete in her final event of the competition, but she will return to the pool in the near future and inspire us all once again."

[caption id="attachment_344018" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Alvarez had to be rescued by her coach after fainting in the pool on Wednesday (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)[/caption]

Speaking after the incident on Wednesday, Fuentes said: "Anita is OK - the doctors checked all vitals and everything is normal - [her] heart rate, oxygen, sugar levels, blood pressure etc. All is OK.

"We sometimes forget that this happens in other high-endurance sports [such as] marathon, cycling, cross country. We all have seen images where some athletes don't make it to the finish line and others help them to get there.

"Our sport is no different than others, just in a pool, we push through limits and sometimes we find them.

"Anita feels good now and the doctors also say she is OK. Tomorrow she will rest all day and will decide with the doctor if she can swim free team finals or not."

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