Former U.S. gymnast says she suffers anaphylactic reaction in the Olympic Village

Date:

Share post:


Gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar, a former U.S. national team member who now represents the Philippines, said she suffered a “severe allergic reaction” in the Olympic Village on Monday.

Jung-Ruivivar, 18, has a tree nut allergy, but said in an Instagram post that she does not believe she ingested the allergen.

“On the way to the treatment center, my allergy symptoms escalated rapidly and my breathing became significantly labored, my throat began to constrict, my chest was itching, and I had severe swelling,” she said.

She had her EpiPen with her and was self-injected as she attempted to locate the Village’s emergency medical clinic and eventually called an ambulance.

Stream every moment and every medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Peacock, starting with the Opening Ceremony July 26 at 12 p.m. ET.

Jung-Ruivivar said that this was only her second anaphylactic reaction, but she received medical attention and has been cleared to compete in Sunday’s qualification round.

“I just want to let everyone know that I am 100% safe and healthy,” she said. “My muscles are fatigued and it definitely took a toll on my body, but I am doing everything I can to recover and perform at my best possible level.”

Jung-Ruivivar is an incoming freshman at Stanford University, where she will compete in NCAA gymnastics. After obtaining her dual citizenship via her Filipina heritage in 2022, she qualified to compete as an individual competitor for the Philippines at the Paris Olympics through the World Cup series earlier this year.

She trains at WOGA Gymnastics in Plano, Texas, alongside Hezly Rivera, who is the youngest member of the U.S. delegation.

Levi Jung-Ruivivar stands and stares ahead (Kyle Terada / USA Today Network file)Levi Jung-Ruivivar stands and stares ahead (Kyle Terada / USA Today Network file)

Levi Jung-Ruivivar stands and stares ahead (Kyle Terada / USA Today Network file)

After competing in Thursday’s podium training, Jung-Ruivivar told reporters that the reaction took a toll on her body. The last time it happened, she had to take a two-week break from training.

“I’m trying to recover from it and it’s really hard because there’s not a lot I can do about it,” Jung-Ruivivar said in the mixed zone, according to gymnastics podcast “GymCastic.” “I’m just trying to push through and do as much as I can.”

Two other former U.S. national team members, Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo, will also represent the Philippines in gymnastics – a route to the Olympics that is growing increasingly common as a deep field of American gymnasts competes for just five Olympic spots.

“It was really scary because I was having a really hard time breathing,” she said in an Instagram video. “I guess you could say I had an Olympic experience like no other.”

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com





Source link

Alexandra Williams
Alexandra Williams
Alexandra Williams is a writer and editor. Angeles. She writes about politics, art, and culture for LinkDaddy News.

Recent posts

Related articles

Winter Weather Advisory issued for parts of area; Latest track, timing, impacts for snow

Snow showers are likely on Thursday for the snowflakes of the season.The National Weather Service has issued...

Russia says new US base in Poland raises overall nuclear danger

MOSCOW/WARSAW (Reuters) -Russia said on Thursday that a new U.S. ballistic missile defence base in northern Poland...

North Carolina GOP lawmakers vote to strip incoming Democratic leaders' powers

North Carolina Republican lawmakers voted to strip the state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general of key...

Twin Cities roads 'glare ice,' local sheriff advises limited travel

Snow coupled with temps dipping below freezing has led to very slippery road conditions in Minnesota, namely...

Missing Hawaii woman’s family alarmed over new info: ‘She’s not alone’

HONOLULU (KHON2) — It has been nine days since Hannah Kobayashi’s cell phone was last located at...

Bees help tackle elephant-human conflict in Kenya

"We used to hate elephants a lot," Kenyan farmer Charity Mwangome says, pausing from her work under...

The FBI arrested a man who's been charged with planning an attack on the New York Stock Exchange

A Florida man was arrested Wednesday and charged with a plot to “reboot” the U.S. government by...

Texas anesthesiologist sentenced to 190 years in federal prison for tampering with IV bags

A Dallas anesthesiologist was sentenced to 190 years in federal prison for injecting drugs into IV bags,...