Team USA swimmer Anita Alvarez, who nearly drowned in 2022, shares major health and life update

Image Credits: www.aetc.af.mil
Alvarez breaks silence, reflects on near-death experience
Anita Alvarez
, the
Team USA
artistic swimmer who made headlines for nearly drowning during the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, has opened up about her health recovery and future plans. The 28-year-old athlete, who was dramatically pulled from the pool by her coach,
Andrea Fuentes
, after blacking out mid-performance, is doing 'better than ever' since the life-threatening scare.
In an exclusive interview with People, Alvarez shared details about the harrowing moment when she lost consciousness in the water. 'I remember suddenly beginning to see light through my eyes and thinking 'Oh, I'm not breathing,' just as they were starting to put an oxygen mask on me,' she recalled. Despite the life-threatening experience, Alvarez remains determined to continue competing and achieving personal goals both in and out of the pool.
From tragedy to triumph: Alvarez's unyielding spirit
Alvarez's strength has been evident ever since that fateful day in Budapest. Following the near-drowning, Alvarez has made impressive strides, including her recent silver medal win at the
2024 Paris Olympics
. 'I'm doing better than ever,' she said, further proving that the near-death experience hasn't set her back.
However, the
Olympic swimmer
's journey isn't just about synchro swimming anymore. Inspired by a new sense of purpose, Alvarez has pursued a new passion by joining the US Air Force through the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), which allows top athletes to serve while continuing to train for Olympic competition.
Image Credits: Instagram/Anitaaalvarez
'I just couldn't pass up the chance to wear two uniforms, representing the US Air Force while training full-time for the next Olympics,' Alvarez explained. She enrolled in basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and graduated from WCAP in January as the program's first gold medalist and the 15th Olympian it has supported.
Looking ahead, Alvarez plans to continue her Olympic career, with the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in her sights. Afterward, she intends to pursue a full-time career with the Air Force, blending her passion for athletics with her service to the country.
'While I cherish my time as a professional athlete, it's exciting to have something to look forward to when that time is up,' she added.
Facing health struggles: Alvarez opens up about past medical episodes
Before the terrifying ordeal in Budapest, Alvarez had already faced other health challenges. In 2021, during an Olympic qualifying event in Barcelona, she passed out after a duet performance. Her coach, Andrea Fuentes, had to dive into the pool to pull her out. Reflecting on that moment, Alvarez told NPR, 'I remember feeling like I was in a hamster wheel. Everything was spinning, then went dark. I woke up at the side of the pool and realized I'm at a competition. 'Wait, I am the competition.' Everyone's staring at me.'
Following that incident, Alvarez underwent medical testing to identify any underlying health issues, though she admitted, 'Tokyo came up so fast, and I don't think I did the best job of being on top of it.' Despite some uncertainty, she pushed forward, making her way to the
Tokyo Olympics
.
However, the incident in Budapest was far more dramatic. As photos and video footage showed, Alvarez was unresponsive and had to be rescued by Fuentes and a lifeguard. Fuentes later spoke out about the difficulty of the sport. In an interview with
People
, Fuentes explained, 'The sport is extremely hard. Sometimes people pass out. Our job is to discover our limits, that's what we do as athletes.' She further explained that Alvarez's incident was the result of pushing herself to her absolute limits, adding, 'It was her best performance ever, she just pushed through her limits and she found them.'
Following the rescue, Fuentes reassured the public that Alvarez was okay once she was pulled from the water, explaining, "She only had water in her lungs; once she started breathing again, everything was okay." Alvarez herself shared that she was grateful for the outpouring of support, saying on Instagram that she was "OK and healthy," thanking fans for their messages of support.
A bright future and the impact of her story
Despite the terrifying images and the media frenzy that followed, Alvarez has taken an inspiring approach to the ordeal. 'It blew up way more than I ever thought,' she said, reflecting on the widespread attention the incident received. But Alvarez's perspective changed after learning how the photos of her rescue inspired others. 'Learning how those photos inspired people changed the way I looked at it,' she admitted.
While she was banned from competing in the team final at the 2022 World Championships, Alvarez's courage and determination have remained unchanged. Just 48 hours later, she was back on track, earning her place on the team for future competitions. Her return to top form in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she earned a silver medal, proved that the Budapest incident did not define her.
Looking to the future, Alvarez is eager to return to training for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. "It was the longest I'd ever been out of a pool" after her post-Olympic time in the WCAP, she said, but her passion for her sport is as strong as ever. 'I'd do it forever if I could,' Alvarez concluded, reaffirming her commitment to her career as a swimmer while also balancing her dual role as an Airman in the US Air Force.

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