Olympic Swimmer Ana Marcela Cunha To Have Spleen Removed Due to Illness

10/21/2016 - 11h08

Ana Marcela Cunha, the 24 year old swimming champion from Bahia, in Brazil's North East, will be forced to take time out of her intense training schedule at the end of this year.

In early 2016 Cunha was diagnosed with a condition affecting her immune system, specifically the production of platelets. In order to prevent the disease worsening, and to ensure she is able to compete in future competitions, she will undergo surgery over the next few days.

The three-time world's best aquatic marathon racer will be admitted to hospital in Sao Paulo to have her spleen removed.

The operation will put her out of action for up to 45 days. The removal of the organ is Cunha's best option, however. It will prevent her from suffering further complications or needing daily medication.

Cunha's team discovered she had the condition after a race in Salvador at the beginning of the year. She complained of feeling unwell and medical tests revealed she had only 110,000 platelets (the average human has over 200,000).

Rio-2016

In April, will the Olympics on the horizon, Cunha began taking preventative drugs on a daily basis, with the authorisation of Wada (World Anti-Doping Agency), to control her body's low production of platelets.

She added a blood-specialist to her team, Audrey Zeinad, to help her through this process. The idea was to interfere as little as possible with her training in the run up to the games.

Ana Marcela Cunha, who won four medals in aquatic marathons in the world championships of 2013 and 2015, was the favourite for gold in the Olympics. But it was not to be. The Brazilian finished in tenth place, and cried with frustration after crossing the finish line.

	Moacyr Lopes Junior/Folhapress
	Ana Marcela Cunha won four medals in aquatic marathons in the world championships of 2013 and 2015

Translated by GILLIAN SOPHIE HARRIS

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