Brazilian gymnast Flavia Saraiva helped her country win bronze in the Olympic women’s team final on Tuesday – despite suffering a nasty eye injury.
The 24-year-old had blood coming from her eyebrow – and swelling beneath her eye – after a painful fall while practicing on the uneven bars in Paris.
But she recovered to help Brazil edge out Great Britain and secure a place on the podium behind Italy and an all-conquering US team led by Simone Biles.
There was concern when Saraiva crashed into the mat and needed treatment from coaches and medics.
The gymnast revealed that she was disorientated and struggling to see out of her right eye after apparently taking a blow from her own knee.
Brazilian gymnast Flavia Saraiva suffered a nasty injury during the Olympic team final in Paris
The 24-year-old needed medical treatment after the nasty fall while on the uneven bars
‘It’s not the first time it happened to me. We are warriors,’ the Brazilian athlete said following the final.
‘I could not see, it bled, but the team’s doctor told me everything was all right. I believe my knee hit my eye when I tripped.’
She added: ‘When I realized I was on the floor, lying down with my knee in my face.
‘I just rolled over so Rebeca (Andrade) could warm up. I said: “Guys, where am I?”. Then (someone) said: “It’s bleeding, it’s bleeding”.
‘I put my hand on my face and my eye was bleeding, I didn’t understand anything. Then he asked if I was warm. Then I said: “Now I’m awake”‘
An incredible vault by Andrade helped seal bronze for Brazil, their first ever medal in the discipline.
She had blood coming from her eyebrow – and swelling beneath her eye – after the fall
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