New Delhi: Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso was sent home from the Paris Olympics after reportedly causing a distraction with her glamorous presence at the Olympic Village. The 20-year-old’s departure followed accusations from the Paraguay team manager, who claimed she created an “inappropriate atmosphere” within the team. Alonso, who competed in the women’s 100m butterfly event, narrowly missed qualifying for the semifinals by just 0.24 seconds. Despite her early exit from the competition, athletes are typically permitted to remain in the Village until the conclusion of the Games.
According to a report by Blast, the young swimmer was asked to leave her apartment because her teammates were reportedly distracted by her appearance. Following the news of her expulsion, Luana Alonso made a surprising announcement that she is retiring from competitive swimming.
“It’s official now! I’m retiring from swimming. Thank you so much for the support. Sorry, Paraguay. I only have to thank you,” she shared on Instagram.
In a subsequent post, Luana Alonso shared glimpses from her Paris Olympics campaign. “Swimming, thank you for allowing me to dream, you taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline and many more. I gave you part of my life and I won’t change it for anything in the world because I lived the best experiences of my life,” she wrote in the caption.
According to a report by The Week, Luana Alonso left the Paris Olympic Village without authorization to visit Disneyland. This move was met with disapproval from Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, who was displeased that Alonso prioritized personal activities over supporting her teammates.
In an interview with Claro Sports, Luana Alonso spoke about her decision to retire early, saying, “After 18 years of swimming and experiencing so many emotions, I’ve decided to stop. I’m grateful that my final race will be at the Olympic Games,” as reported by The Week.
Luana Alonso has been an inspiration for aspiring swimmers in Paraguay. She made her Summer Olympics debut in Tokyo 2021 and has since competed in numerous major tournaments, setting several national records in butterfly events throughout her career.
