Fighting cancer, Italian-Brazilian fencer Nathalie Moellhausen competed in the women's épée event in the Paris Olympics and went on to become an inspiration to millions.
Hours before her debut, Nathalie's team shared on social media that the 38-year-old athlete had been hospitalized after discovering a tumour in her spine prior to the Olympics. Fortunately, she was discharged just days before the competition.
On the morning of Saturday, July 27, Nathalie fought while taking morphine for pain due to a benign tumour in her coccyx and chronic pain in the area.
During her match against Canada's Ruien Xiao, Nathalies discomfort was evident as her legs were trembling, leading to her collapse and forcing her to seek medical treatment mid-game. After consulting her coach, she persisted in continuing the match, ultimately losing 15-11.
After the match, she was supported by her delegation members and immediately taken to the hospital for further treatment. According to reports, she is scheduled to undergo spinal surgery on July 31.
This marks Nathalies fourth Olympic appearance. Born in Milan with dual nationality due to her Brazilian grandfather, she competed for Italy in the 2012 London Olympics and chose Brazil for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Nathalie's courage and determination have captured the hearts of people around the world, serving as a powerful reminder of the human spirit. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) paid tribute to her on social media, stating, "Nathalie Moellhausen, you are a giant of Brazilian sport!"