French Swimmer Punches Ticket To Olympics And Immediately Dislocates His Shoulder While Celebrating

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Earning a spot in the Olympics is obviously a cause for celebration, but a French swimmer who recently got the chance to represent his country got a bit too excited and dislocated his shoulder in the process.

Countries around the globe are currently in the midst of firming up the list of athletes who will be making the trek to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will officially kick off when the Opening Ceremony is held on July 26th.

That includes the one that’s hosting the international competition, and over the past few days, swimmers that have gathered in the city of Chartres have been competing in the French Championships that serve as the qualifier for the Summer Games.

On Tuesday, 17-year-old Rafael Fente-Damers (who has committed to take his talents to the University of Texas) took part in a qualifying heat where the top two finishers would secure the right to swim in the 100m freestyle at the Olympics. Maxime Grousset won the race with a time of  47.33, but Fente-Damers clinched the second spot after completing the two laps in 48.14.

The teenager (who also qualified for the 4x100m relay with the second-place finish) was understandably amped after realizing he’d made the cut, and he enthusiastically pounded the water with his left arm while celebrating.

Unfortunately, he dislocated his shoulder in the process.

The setback didn’t prevent Fente-Damers from beaming on the podium where he was photographed with his arm in a sling.

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According to The Guardian, Grousset voiced his support for his teammate, saying “I hope it goes well for him because we’re waiting for him for the relay” and adding, “He’s a bit crazy, that’s why he’s good.”

At this point, Fente-Damers’ status for the Olympics is unclear; most people only need a few weeks to recover from a dislocated shoulder, although it can take months for the injury to fully heal.