Vicki Roycroft, a three-time Olympian, is well-versed in equestrian competition. Roycroft competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, her first Olympics. The Australian, who is now 70 years old, has competed in equestrian contests on a regular basis, but her most recent competition, at last month’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, did not go as planned. Last month, during the event, the seasoned athlete had a potentially fatal rupture of the aorta.

The Daily Mail published this information, as the Olympian is now back home in good condition after being hospitalized for three weeks.

The second life for the equestrian veteran

The three-time Olympian calls Mount White, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, home. A month ago, she was getting ready to compete in a show jumping competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. However, while getting ready for the function, she had a burst aorta and succumbed to cardiac arrest. Roycroft was given CPR at the scene and sent to the hospital in an ambulance. She had an eight-hour procedure to repair the rupture in her aorta, the body’s primary artery for pumping blood out of the heart.

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Dr. Mark Schembri was in attendance at the performance where the event occurred. After receiving the phone call, the doctor rushed to the scene to help Roycroft. As reported by the Daily Mail, the 70-year-old shares her experience, saying, “I believe I was dead for 11 minutes. And trust me, there’s nothing there.” When Dr. Schembri was in his early 20s, he met Roycroft for the first time. He said it was unbelievable to have the chance to save her life after all this time.

Another hero in her story

When the Olympian suddenly fainted, Dr. Schembri was undoubtedly the hero who came to her aid. Aside from Vicki Roycroft, the horse she was riding is the real hero of this tale, as per her. Roycroft was getting ready to participate in a showjumping event with her horse when she had a cardiac arrest. Nonetheless, she explains that her horse may have sensed something was wrong with her and slowed down as Roycroft was ready to fall off due to the aortic rupture.

Many things may have gone wrong if the animal had thrown her off when she collapsed on it, so she is quite grateful that it didn’t. The 70-year-old was in serious condition after surgery and spent three weeks at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The Olympic athlete has safely returned home.

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Her commitment to the sport is unfathomable, as she continues to compete in show jumping despite her senior status. We hope the Olympic athlete gets well soon.