Women’s World Cup rocked as Colombian teen Linda Caicedo collapses in training

The Women’s World Cup is in shock after a rising star collapsed during a training session with major fears for her condition.

Horror as WC star collapses at training

The Women’s World Cup was rocked last night after Colombian teen sensation Linda Caicedo collapsed in a training session – with major fears for her condition.

Caicedo, 18, completed a remarkable World Cup scoring “hat-trick” when she netted in her side’s opening win over South Korea.

This season, the teenager has also scored at both the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups.

All this, incredibly, just six months after winning a two-year battle with cancer.

EL MOMENTO QUE PREOCUPÓ A TODO UN PAÍS

Linda Caicedo, ya recuperada, entrena con normalidad junto a sus compañeras.

📹 DSPORTS, en Australia pic.twitter.com/02vIjZisaU

— DSportsCo (@DIRECTVSportsCo) July 27, 2023

But the joy of Caicedo’s World Cup bow was overshadowed by her collapse at Colombia’s training base on the outskirts of Sydney, The Sun reports.

Caicedo was running with the ball on a dribble when she suddenly stopped and began clutching the left side of her chest.

Linda Caicedo clutched her heart before collapsing in Colombia training on Thursday Picture: Twitter @DIRECTTVSPORTSCO

Team-mates and medics rushed to Linda Caicedo's aid before she was rushed to hospital Picture: Twitter @DIRECTTVSPORTSCO

She then tried to sit down but, within seconds had keeled over, seemingly unconscious.

Colombian medical staff rushed over as a sense of panic overwhelmed the camp, with terrified teammates fearing the worst.

With concern growing, an ambulance was summoned and swiftly arrived.

Caicedo was unconscious for at least 90 seconds as medics and teammates rushed to the scene.

Thankfully, Caicedo regained consciousness when she was placed on a stretcher, ferried into the ambulance and off to a local hospital.

The entire session was unsurprisingly cancelled as teammates looked on, some struggling to contain their emotions at her condition.

Cancer survivor Linda Caicedo has scored at her third World Cup in a year. Picture: Franck Fife / AFP

Media at the session were immediately asked to leave the site, with Colombian staff explaining: “We cannot give any more details – and we want to avoid any more confusion.”

Later last night, a Colombian FA medical staff member claimed: “Linda is very tired.

“What happened was just a symptom of all the stress and physical demands. She is well, and all is back to normal.”

But the scare left her teammates, who are due to play Germany in Sydney on Sunday, in disarray.

Caicedo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 15 in February 2020, just before the pandemic struck.

She needed surgery to remove a tumour and underwent six months of chemotherapy before returning to the football pitch.

Caicedo explained: “The truth is that I was very young and maybe I didn’t quite understand what was happening to me.”

The Real Madrid star netted for Colombia in a 2-0 win over South Korea. Picture: Franck Fife / AFP

Linda Caicedo was diagnosed with cancer when she was 15. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Mum Herlinda recalled: “Every time we would take Linda to the hospital, she would cry, and she would ask the doctors to please tell her the truth, if she would be able to play football again. That’s all she wanted to know.”

Her recovery to full fitness stunned many.

Incredibly, she was able to make a move from Deportivo Cali to Real Madrid.

She played a key role in both the youth tournaments, the top scorer in the under-17 event as Colombia reached the final before losing to Spain while they made the last eight of the under-20 competition.

Her goal against Korea was the ultimate good news story. But now those smiles have turned to tears and fears.

This article first appeared in the The Sun and republished with permission.

Originally published as Women’s World Cup rocked as Colombian teen Linda Caicedo collapses in training