Selfish act will ‘haunt’ official after after Olympic athlete collapses

The heartbreaking truth behind viral Olympics footage has been revealed after outrage surrounded a male official’s act.

The internet has condemned. Photo: Twitter.

The world has been quick to condemn the actions of an Olympics official over what some have called an instinctively entitled act.

A storm is raging over footage of a Brazilian medic appearing to steal the seat of a distressed female fencing athlete.

The vision has divided the internet with one version of the video being viewed by more than seven million people.

Brazilian Nathalie Moellhausen was eliminated in the first round of the women’s epee by Canada’s Ruein Can Xiao, but it is what happened after the event that has caught the world’s attention.

Moellhausen appeared to suffer an injury during the bout before she fainted and fell to the floor.

Medical staff and team officials rushed to attend to her, but she was still visibly shaken.

Three people were there to help Moellhausen, but it was the actions of one particular that has outraged some viewers after a chair was brought out to help Moellhausen — only for the official to snatch the seat after being tapped on the shoulder.

The internet has condemned. Photo: Twitter.

After realising his blunder, the official quickly got back to his feet and helped pull the fencing athlete onto the chair — but the damage had been done in the eyes of some.

One Twitter account said the moment will “haunt him for life” as a barrage of criticism was directed his way.

Another jumped to the conclusion that: “The fact he stole the chair tells you a lot about men”.

The divisive issue exploded when other Twitter users came forward to defend the man’s knee-jerk actions.

“He’s just warming it up for her. Those chairs are cold,” one spectator cheekily wrote.

Another posted: “When in big stress, I’ll do similar stupid things. I feel for him.”

It was a very emotional moment for Moellhausen, who had delayed surgery until after the competition to treat a tumour that recent scans had discovered.

The official did try to help. Photo: Twitter.

All is well that ends well.

The 38-year-old was reportedly in hospital the day before the Opening Ceremony.

According to Brazilian media, Moellhausen was diagnosed with a benign tumour in her coccyx in February.

Moellhausen, who was born in Italy, became a world champion in 2019 and was competing in her fourth Olympics.

Her team posted on Instagram the day before competition exactly why it was such an emotional moment.

She posted on Instagram it was “a strange joke of fate” that she needed to be hospitalised so close to her big day.

The athlete was still in distress. Photo: Twitter.

Nathalie Moellhausen. Photo by Devin Manky/Getty Images.

“The challenge was enormous to recover her in time to compete,” her team posted on her Instagram page.

“Whatever the outcome Nathalie will stand on her beloved fencing Piste one more time as she dreamt, despite all statistics and predictions.

“Despite her recent silence, she expresses all her deep and profound gratitude to her team, federation, fencing clubs, partners, supporters and young fencers around the world who accompany her beautiful journey.

“A special thanks goes to the amazing French medical staff.

“Nathalie has dedicated her heart and soul in the practice of this discipline with the purpose to explore and share the mysterious beauty in the art that is fencing, inspiring our own journey behind the mask.

“We family, friends and team of work are witnesses to her strength and determination shown these recent days.

“It’s our turn to show her all the love and honour all together her fencing.”

Originally published as Selfish act will ‘haunt’ official after after Olympic athlete collapses