Brazilian gymnast Flavia Saraiva suffers horrific eye injury during Olympic final

Brazilian gymnast Flavia Saraiva helped her country to bronze in the women’s Olympic final on Tuesday despite a serious eye injury.

The 24-year-old suffered bleeding from her eyebrow and swelling under her eye after a painful fall during training on the uneven bars in Paris.

But she recovered to help Brazil beat Great Britain, securing a podium finish behind Italy and the all-powerful American team led by Simone Biles.

Concerns arose when Saraiva fell to the mat and had to be treated by coaches and doctors.

The gymnast reported feeling disoriented and having difficulty seeing out of her right eye after apparently being struck by her own knee.

Brazilian gymnast Flavia Saraiva suffered a nasty injury during the Olympic team final in Paris

The 24-year-old required medical treatment after the nasty fall on the uneven bars

“It’s not the first time this happens to me. We are warriors,” the Brazilian athlete said after the final.

“I couldn’t see, it was bleeding, but the team doctor told me everything was fine. I think my knee hit my eye when I tripped.”

She added: ‘When I realised I was on the ground, with my knee in my face.

‘I just rolled over so Rebeca (Andrade) could warm up. I said, “Guys, where am I?” Then (someone said), “It’s bleeding, it’s bleeding.”

‘I put my hand on my face and my eye was bleeding, I didn’t understand anything. Then he asked if I was warm. Then I said: “Now I’m awake”‘

An incredible jump from Andrade gave Brazil bronze, their first ever medal in the discipline.

There was blood coming from her eyebrow – and swelling under her eye – after the fall