SPECIAL “I bent down for a ball, and then I woke up intubated, surrounded by machines and people in masks” » The unnoticed disease that preys on athletes

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited cardiovascular disease that causes abnormal thickening of the myocardium. It is considered the leading cause of sudden death in people under 35, especially young people and apparently healthy athletes.

The disease can be manifested by excessive fatigue, dizziness, chest pain or fainting during exertion. In many cases, however, it does not show any symptoms until a serious episode occurs.

The publication As writes that almost 95,000 people currently suffer from this condition in Spain. Cardiologists insist on the importance of early detection of this genetic disease, which is transmitted in 50% of cases.

In professional football, cardiological checks are more and more rigorous. Electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and stress tests are part of routine medical examinations.

However, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can go unnoticed for years or be confused with the so-called “athlete's heart”, an association of structural and functional changes that occur in the heart of people who exert intense and regular physical exertion for a long period of time.

In a sport with explosive efforts, sprints and constant changes of pace, illness can manifest itself suddenly and often fatally.

The case of Colombian Andrés Felipe Román, who still plays at Atletico Nacional, although he was suspected of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

A well-known case is that of Andrés Felipe Román, 30, a Colombian defender, who in 2021 was on the verge of signing with Boca Juniors, one of the biggest clubs in Argentina and South America. The transfer failed at the last moment, following routine medical tests, the team of doctors detecting a possible hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The news caused a real shock in the football world, as Román came from Millonarios, was 25 years old and a player much wanted by the coach.

After the cancellation of the transfer, the footballer underwent new tests in Colombia, where a medical board concluded that “the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cannot be confirmed” and classified the condition as a natural physiological change in high-performance athletes – that “athlete's heart”. Thus, he was allowed to continue playing.

In June 2025, however, the same footballer was the protagonist of an episode that brought the importance of these controls back into question. The Colombian collapsed during a match after feeling dizzy and losing his balance, causing concern among his teammates and the technical staff.

In a padel match, José Manuel Martínez, an ordinary man, bent down to pick up a ball and fell. “We started playing and, on the second ball, I bent down to pick it up. All of a sudden, I found myself in a hospital, intubated, surrounded by machines, gowns and people in masks,” he said.

Martínez had suffered a cardiac arrest. He needed 20 minutes of CPR and three rounds of electric shocks to recover.

“Yes, I have experienced sudden death. Only 8% of people come back to life after such an attempt,” he added.

Up until that point, Martinez was an active, strong and healthy amateur athlete. There was nothing to suggest that his heart was hiding an invisible risk. The diagnosis was clear: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Today, he lives with an automatic implantable defibrillator. “It's the only thing that guarantees my safety,” he emphasized.

He had to give up intense sports, retire due to illness and learn a new life, a much more fragile one. “I was strong as a bull, athletic, with a good job, a nice family, I took care of myself. What did I do wrong to end up like this? Why did this happen to me?” the man asked.

“With this new normality I returned to padel and swimming, but at a different pace, without rush, without stress, enjoying every moment more”followed the Spaniard, who is happy to learn, even if in an extreme way, that he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Another athlete, named Javier, first heard the name “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy” when he was 18 years old. He was a triathlete and regional champion. For years he climbed the podiums, supporting demanding training, but he too had to give up sports.

“The monster I always feared had come after me”

For many years, doctors spoke of “athlete's heart,” suggesting that thickening of the heart muscle might be a normal result of intense training. But, from a moment on, this explanation ceased to reassure him. “The monster I always feared had come after me,” Javier said.

“Every time I get on the bike, I think, 'What if this is the last time?'” added the triathlete. Competitions have been replaced by periodic medical checks, intensity of effort with caution, and confidence with constant vigilance.

For over 20 years, he lived with this threat. “Every medical check-up was a huge stress. I knew that at any moment I could be told that I was not an athlete, but a heart patient,” continued Javier.

However, he continued to compete, win and podium at regional and national levels well into his 40s. Then the diagnosis came cruelly and relentlessly: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

And perhaps the most difficult aspect of the disease was the absence of symptoms. “I feel just as strong. How can I go from superathlete to cardio overnight?” Javier said.

“You have father's and grandfather's disease!”

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic disease, and Javier knew this from his family: his father had suffered several heart attacks and had a defibrillator implanted. This was why Javier was monitored: “You have your father's and grandfather's disease!”

Another athlete, David, practiced judo, tennis, padel, mountain bike, ran 10 km races and went to the gym. He always felt something strange. “In explosive sports, I would tire very quickly. They told me it was because of the lactic acid, but I knew it wasn't normal,” he said.

After a race in which he crossed the finish line last, he realized that his body was sending him clear signals. “That's the day I said stop. The lactic acid story just didn't work anymore,” said David.

And in his case, the diagnosis was hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. “I finally knew what was wrong with me, but now I was afraid of a heart attack at any moment,” he confessed.

Today, practice sports with caution and send a strong message to everyone: “Don't normalize extreme fatigue! If your body isn't reacting the way it should, look for answers. And for those who have already been diagnosed, trust science!”

Defibrillators, but also prevention, can mean the difference between life and death

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy does not always paralyze life, but it conditions it. The disease is transmitted genetically in 50% of cases, but this is often not discovered in time.

Cardiologist and researcher William McKenna summed it up this way: “When you're dealing with a patient, it's not just one person, you're looking at a whole family.”

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy does not affect just one patient; it has a genetic origin and can remain hidden for years. Therefore, it does not matter the age at which it is detected – first-degree relatives should always be investigated, as sons or grandsons may also be affected.

Although the disease cannot always be prevented, it can be detected in time. And in sports knowing how to act in the first few minutes can mean the difference between a tragedy and a second chance. Having defibrillators, training in CPR, and not ignoring signals like extreme fatigue or fainting during exertion can save lives.

In Romania, in 2023, almost 6,000 patients discharged with the diagnosis of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy were registered. Of these, approximately 80% are symptomatic, with mild or marked limitation of physical activity. Specialists estimate that the real number of affected people in Romania is several tens of thousands, many being asymptomatic or undiagnosed.