Why Brazilian Gymnast Flavia Saraiva Competed With a Black Eye at the Paris Olympics

Brazilian gymnast Flavia Saraiva helped the country win its first-ever Olympic team medal in women’s gymnastics on Tuesday—while sporting a black eye.

Just before the women’s team competition at the Paris Summer Olympics began, Saraiva fell while warming up on the uneven bars. Photos showed the 24-year-old gymnast bleeding from a cut above her right eye and sporting what appeared to be a black eye. But after receiving medical aid, she returned to the competition wearing a bandage.

“I could not see, it bled, but the team’s doctor told me everything was all right,” Saraiva said, as reported by the Associated Press. “I believe my knee hit my eye when I tripped. It’s not the first time it happens to me.”

“We are warriors,” she continued.

Saraiva went on to compete in all four events—uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault—for the team final.

“She’s tough,” NBC announcer Rich Lerner said during the broadcast.

Fans agreed, with many taking to social media to applaud the gymnast for her determination.

Saraiva previously competed in the Tokyo Summer Olympics held in 2021 and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016.

Brazil earned the bronze medal for the women’s team final on Tuesday, while Italy won silver and the U.S. reclaimed gold.