Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso, a celebrated athlete known for her prowess in the pool and her glamorous presence, has been expelled from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games athletes' village. The 20-year-old, who recently competed in the women's 100m butterfly event but did not advance to the semifinals, was reportedly removed for creating an "inappropriate atmosphere."
Allegedly, Alonso sneaked out of the village to visit Disneyland Paris instead of supporting her teammates, leading to her expulsion.
Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, said, “Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay.” Alonso initially refrained from commenting but later took to social media to deny the allegations, stating, “I was never removed or expelled from anywhere. Stop spreading false information.”
This controversy coincides with Alonso's announcement of her retirement from competitive swimming. After failing to qualify for the semifinals by just 0.24 seconds, Alonso shared her decision to retire from the sport on Instagram, expressing gratitude to her supporters and reflecting on her swimming career.
“Swimming, thank you for allowing me to dream. You taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline, and many more,” she wrote. Despite the disappointment of not advancing, Alonso emphasized that her decision to retire had been made long before the Olympics.
In an interview with Claro Sports, Alonso reiterated her emotions about retiring, saying, “I have been swimming for so long, 18 years, and I have so many feelings. Unfortunately, I made the decision to stop, and I am happy that my last race will be at the Olympic Games.” She also apologized to her country, Paraguay, for not meeting expectations.
Alonso's departure from the sport marks the end of a promising career that saw her rise as one of Paraguay's most notable athletes. She competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and holds multiple Paraguayan records in butterfly events. Her achievements have been a source of national pride and inspiration for young swimmers in Paraguay.
Alonso plans to study political science in the United States. She expressed her desire to help athletes and promote sports development in her home country, aspiring to one day become a minister of sport. “As an athlete, I know what all athletes suffer, and I want to help them promote sport,” she said.
In a similar incident, Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira was also expelled from the Olympics village after reportedly sneaking out with her boyfriend, fellow swimmer Gabriel Santos. The couple allegedly left the village for a night out in Paris, which led to Vieira's removal from the team.