In an unexpected turn of events during a live broadcast, a young woman standing behind President Joe Biden collapsed, leading to a swift interruption of the broadcast. The incident took place as President Biden was hosting the national championship-winning Louisiana State University women’s basketball team at the White House.
Celebrating the team’s victory, the president applauded their accomplishments. “I’ve always told our daughters and granddaughters that they can do anything any man can do,” President Biden remarked. He further added, “That’s what America stands for – possibilities. And this team embodies that spirit with their remarkable athletic abilities and their perseverance to redefine what’s possible.”
However, as he was acknowledging the upcoming visit of the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team, a sudden disturbance disrupted his speech. The disturbance was due to Sa’Myah Smith, a freshman forward player, fainting unexpectedly.
Biden reassured everyone saying, “Folks, it’s OK,” before the official White House feed of the event was abruptly suspended.
Thankfully, the C-SPAN camera kept rolling, documenting the next few minutes as immediate aid was provided to Smith. President Biden, expressing empathy, commented, “It’s a lot of standing. I apologize,” and admitted such incidents have occurred before.
After a pause of approximately six minutes, Smith was helped out of the room, allowing Biden to resume his speech. Speculations suggest that Smith might have fainted due to prolonged standing with locked knees. At the time of the incident, Biden’s speech had been ongoing for around 15 minutes.
A native of Desoto, Texas, Smith had made significant contributions in 36 games during the Tigers’ championship season.
While the incident was regrettable, it highlights the need for event organizers, including the White House, to ensure the well-being of attendees during long-standing events. It’s a reminder that while championing accomplishments is important, we must not lose sight of the human element involved.
