The 2024 Paris Olympics faced drama when 20-year-old Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso became the center of attention after not qualifying for the semifinals in the women’s 100-meter butterfly on July 27th. Recent reports reveal she was asked to leave the athletes’ village for creating an inappropriate atmosphere.
According to The Sun, Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, released a statement saying, “Her presence in the athletes’ village created an atmosphere that was not conducive to the Paraguayan team. We thank her for cooperating with the recommendations, and it was her own decision not to stay overnight in the village.”
Although Alonso had announced her retirement from swimming, she continued to stay in the athletes’ village. Paraguayan media reported that she went to Disneyland instead of supporting her teammates, upsetting the Olympic team management. The Daily Mail also reported that Alonso dressed provocatively and partied with other athletes, causing distractions.
Alonso finished 6th in the qualifying round with a time of 1:03.09 minutes, slower than her previous record of 1:00.37 minutes in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
She later posted on Instagram announcing her official retirement from swimming and thanked her fans for their support.
Despite the drama, in a subsequent post, Alonso expressed her gratitude to swimming for providing her with invaluable experiences. She said she would never forget the good times she had with friends from around the world and the special opportunities she received from the sport.
Alonso denies being kicked out of athletes’ village, claims she fell victim to false information
Luana Alonso has spoken out against rumors that she was kicked out of the athletes’ village, saying she was the victim of “lies” and “false information.”
In a statement on Instagram on Monday, Alonso said: “I just want to clarify that I have never been kicked out or fired from anywhere. Please stop spreading false information. I don’t want to say anything, but I will not let lies affect me either.”
Alonso was previously reported to be walking around in an outfit she had chosen instead of the official outfit provided by Paraguayan national team officials.
She was also seen socializing with other athletes, and was reportedly distracted by her teammates who were still competing at the Olympics.
Alonso checked into a hotel in the French capital, visited luxury shops and restaurants, and posted photos on social media for her 600,000 followers.
Paraguayan Olympic Committee officials decided to ban her from interacting with other team members after learning that her behavior had become “disturbing.”
In a statement on Alonso’s departure, Paraguayan Olympic Committee chief Larissa Scherer said: “Her presence creates an inappropriate atmosphere within the Paraguayan team,”
“We thank her for following the order, as she was willing to not stay overnight in the athletes’ village.”
Photo from: instagram @luanalonsom