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3 months ago
22
Flavia Saraiva suffered another painful fall at the Paris Olympics, with fans praising the Brazilian gymnast's resilience after her body took yet more punishment.
Earlier this week, Saraiva helped her country win bronze in the women's team final on Tuesday - despite picking up a nasty eye injury.
The 24-year-old had blood pouring from her eyebrow - and swelling beneath her eye - after a painful fall while on the uneven bars.
Two days later, the gymnast missed out on a medal - finishing ninth out of 24 - in the individual all-around final after she hit the ground once more.
Saraiva was performing her floor routine but lost her footing following a double back somersault.
Flavia Saraiva suffered another fall at the Paris Olympics after losing her footing on the floor
Earlier this week, Saraiva also suffered a nasty injury during the Olympic team final in Paris
The Brazilian's feet slid from underneath her and she fell flat on her stomach, with many fans branding it a 'belly flop'.
But many supporters were full of praise for the way Saraiva recovered from the error during Thursday's tense final.
'Flavia falling, getting up, losing her balance and still with a smile on her face,' one wrote on social media. 'I was almost crying and shaking. FLAVIA SARAIVA, IN MY HEART YOU WILL ALWAYS BE GOLD!'
'Big fall from Flavia Saraiva on floor but one thing about her is that she is going to PERFORM. She is so entertaining to watch on the event,' another wrote.
'Flavia Saraiva has so much spirit and energy and so do all her supporters in the crowd. I'm loving watching her, even her fall was graceful,' a third added.
Saraiva needed to be patched up during the team final after crashing into the mat and receiving attention from medics.
The gymnast revealed afterwards that she was briefly disorientated and struggling to see out of her right eye after apparently taking a blow from her own knee.
Many supporters were full of praise for the way Saraiva recovered from the fall on Thursday
'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"'
English (US)