Colombia’s Women’s World Cup superstar Linda Caicedo sent teammates into a panic on Thursday when she collapsed during a training session in Sydney.
The 18-year-old Caicedo, who scored Colombia’s second goal in their 2-0 victory over the Republic of Korea on Tuesday, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020 when she was just 15.
Colombian football star Linda Caicedo.Credit: AP
Now cancer-free, Caicedo has become an important fixture of the Colombian national team, and was awarded player of the tournament when the country reached the final of the 2022 Copa America Femenina — South America’s main international football championship.
The Colombian team were jogging at training on Thursday when Caicedo grabbed her chest before stopping and falling to the ground slowly.
Teammates rushed to her side, quickly followed by medical staff, with reports that Caicedo was unconscious for about 90 seconds.
An ambulance was called to the ground and Caicedo was stretchered off and taken to hospital.
Media were asked to leave the ground and training was cancelled following the incident.
A Colombian FA medical staff member later put worries at ease with the news Caicedo was OK.
“Linda is very tired,” the staff member reportedly said.
“What happened was just a symptom of all the stress and physical demands. She is well and all is back to normal.”
Caicedo signed with Real Madrid earlier this year, with the club describing her as ‘one of the most promising young talents in world football’.
Colombia are due to face Germany in the second of their group stage matches at Sydney Football Stadium.
The South American team currently sit second on the Group H table, with Sunday’s rivals in top spot after defeating Morocco 6-0 on Monday.
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