Colombia star Linda Caicedo returns to training at the Women’s World Cup after shocking footage showed the 18-year-old collapsing before being rushed to hospital

Colombia star Linda Caicedo has returned to training after being rushed to hospital on Friday.

The 18-year-old was taken to hospital via ambulance after collapsing during training at the country’s base for the tournament in Sydney.

Distressing footage of the incident showed the Caicedo running alongside her teammates before stopping and clutching her chest.

Caicedo then fell to the ground and was quickly surrounded by concerned teammates before medical staff rushed onto the training pitch to assist her.

Whilst laying on the ground Caicedo lost consciousness, only coming round after she was placed on a stretcher to be transported to the medical facility.

Colombia star Linda Caicedo has returned to training after collapsing at the Women’s World Cup

18-year-old trained alongside the rest of Nelson Abadia’s squad ahead of their clash with Germany

A Colombian Football Association medical staff member later said Linda is ‘very tired’ but is ‘back to normal’. 

Caicedo was later released from hospital and returned to training alongside her team-mates as they prepare to face their Group H rivals Germany at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Despite returning to Nelson Abadia’s squad, Caicedo is not expected to play any part in the side’s second group game. 

The young star, who joined Real Madrid from Colombian club Deportivo Cali earlier this year, made her professional debut aged just 14 but her career was put on hold after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020.

‘At the time, I didn’t think I could play professionally again because of all the treatments and surgeries I had to go through,’ she told FIFA.

Footage showed the 18-year-old clutching her chest before falling to the ground in training

Caicedo was unconscious and was rushed to hospital before being released on Friday

‘Mentally, it was a very difficult moment in my life. I’m forever grateful that it happened when I was very young. I was able to recover, I also had my family’s support, and I feel very good now.

‘What happened made me grow. I feel thankful and happy to be here.’

Caicedo underwent six months of chemotherapy before being declared cancer free and resuming her football career.

The Real Madrid star enjoyed a dream opening to the tournament, netting in her country’s victory over South Korea as Las Chicas Superpoderosas look to improve on their best-ever World Cup finish, achieved when they reached the round of 16 in 2015.