Coach Andrea Fuentes, 39, who has won four Olympic medals, jumped in to save the American, who sank to the bottom of the pool after her appearance in Wednesday's final.
- It was really scary.
I had to jump in because the lifeguards did not, Fuentes tells Marca.
Alvarez quickly regained consciousness after treatment by the pool.
"Gave everything to the last"
Now Alvarez is breaking the silence on American NBC.
- I remember the feeling that I did a really good performance.
It made me feel very happy and proud, says Alvarez.
She got out so much that she plunged into the pool.
- I gave everything in the last and then I remember that I started to sink and felt that I did not start to feel good and that was literally the last thing I remembered, says Alvarez.
Despite the nasty incident, Alvarez will start later in the championship.
- She does not want to leave the championship with the image of a photo when she lies unconscious at the bottom of the pool, says coach Fuentes.