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 under her eye – after a painful fall while practising on the uneven bars in Paris.
But she rallied to help Brazil overtake Britain and secure a spot on the podium behind Italy and a conquering U.S. team led by Simone Biles.
There was concern when Saraiva crashed to the canvas and needed treatment from trainers and doctors.
The gymnast revealed she was disoriented and had difficulty seeing out of her right eye after apparently taking a hit to her own knee.
Brazilian gymnast Flavia Saraiva suffered a serious injury during the Olympic team final in Paris
The 24-year-old needed medical treatment after the nasty fall while on the uneven bars.
“This is not the first time this has happened to me. We are warriors,” said the Brazilian athlete after the final.
“I couldn’t see, I was bleeding, but the team doctor told me everything was fine. I think I hit my eye with my knee when I tripped.”
She added: ‘When I realized I was on the ground, lying down with my knee on my face.
‘I turned around to warm up Rebeca (Andrade). I said, ‘Guys, where am I?’ Then (someone) said, ‘She’s bleeding, she’s bleeding.’
‘I put my hand on my face and my eye was bleeding, I didn’t understand anything. Then he asked me if I was warm. Then I said, “I’m awake now.”
An incredible leap from Andrade helped seal bronze for Brazil, its first medal in the discipline.
Blood was coming out of his eyebrow and he had swelling under his eye after the fall.