Olympian Who Nearly Drowned Resurfaces with a Powerful New Career Move

Anita Alvarez, a three-time Olympic artistic swimmer for Team USA, has announced a major career shift just years after surviving a widely publicized medical emergency during competition, as reported by The New York Post.

Alvarez, 28, gained national attention in 2022 after fainting during her solo routine at the FINA World Championships in Budapest.

After sinking to the bottom of the pool, her coach Andrea Fuentes jumped in to rescue her, and the moment quickly went viral. The incident prompted renewed attention to athlete safety and sparked conversations across the sports community.

This is the moment a swimming coach drags American swimmer Anita Alvarez off the bottom of the pool after she fainted during her routine at the World Aquatics Championships.

Photo of the year in my books @AFPphoto pic.twitter.com/8iKPHTgxkq

— kyle . Taylor (@livingbyyyz) June 24, 2022

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Following her recovery, Alvarez returned to the international stage and helped lead Team USA to a silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now, the Buffalo, New York, native is moving forward in a new direction.

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According to People Magazine, Alvarez completed basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in January and has officially joined the United States Air Force.

She is now part of the military’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), which allows Olympic-level athletes to continue competing while serving in the armed forces.

“Being able to wear two uniforms and get to prepare full time for the next Olympics while also representing the US Air Force just seemed like something I couldn’t pass up,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez is the 15th Olympian and the first Olympic medalist to join the WCAP through the Air Force. She said the opportunity has given her both a renewed sense of purpose and a long-term path beyond her athletic career.

Olympian + Airman✈️

Congratulations to Airman Anita Alvarez, a three time Olympic athlete, who graduated USAF Basic Military Training recently! She will be joining the Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program.https://t.co/McOADqwL2P@AETCommand pic.twitter.com/FLcocR8Qj0

— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) January 14, 2025

After the 2022 incident, Alvarez said the aftermath gave her a new perspective. “[The incident] blew up way more than I ever thought,” she noted. “But learning how those photos inspired people changed the way I looked at it.”

Now focused on training for the 2025 World Championships in Singapore this July, Alvarez said her time in basic training has made her “a better leader and a better person.”

Alvarez has her sights set on the 2028 Summer Olympics but also plans to remain in the Air Force beyond her competitive years.

“I have aspirations to continue serving after [2028],” she said. “While I cherish my time as a professional athlete, it is also very exciting to have something to look forward to when that time is up.”

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