French swimmer Rafael Fente-Damers successfully qualified for the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, but while punching the pool waters in joyous celebration at the French Championships in Chartres, the 17-year-old athlete reportedly dislocated his shoulder.
Fente-Damers had just secured his spot on the team by placing second in the 100-meter freestyle final behind Maxime Grousset, when, as seen in footage of his reaction that has since gone viral on social media, he winced in pain before pointing to his shoulder.
Fente-Damers was certainly all smiles in photos taken later at the winners’ podium despite having his left arm in a swing. L’Equipe reported that his dislocated shoulder — an injury in which the upper arm bone pops out of its socket — had been treated at a local hospital.
Fente-Damers, who completed the freestyle final in 48.14 seconds after Grousset’s time of 47.33, isn’t the first athlete to injure himself ahead of the Olympics. WNBA star Cameron Brink tore her ACL on Tuesday after making the U.S. 3×3 basketball team.
While the injured Los Angeles Sparks rookie is officially getting replaced, Fente-Damers is currently still expected to compete. The swimming portion of this year’s Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 27 to Aug. 4 at the París La Défense Arena.
