Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso, who recently retired after not qualifying in the 100m butterfly, denied reports she was kicked out of the Paris Olympic Village for creating an “inappropriate atmosphere.” Team officials have not clarified the reasons behind her departure.
In short:
Retirement and Denial of Expulsion
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso, who retired after not qualifying in the 100m butterfly, denies claims of being kicked out of the Paris Olympic Village for creating an “inappropriate atmosphere.” Team officials have not clarified the reasons behind her departure.
Team’s Statement on Departure
The team stated, “Her presence was creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay. We appreciate that she voluntarily chose not to stay in the athletes’ village.”
Social Media Update
The swimmer, with over 500,000 Instagram followers, confirmed on social media that she has returned to the United States.
Details of the Incident
Alonso finished sixth in her heat, narrowly missing the semi-finals, and stayed in Paris after completing her Olympic commitments. Camilo Pérez, president of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, called the incident a “minor act of indiscipline.”
Reports of Unauthorized Sightseeing
Reports suggest Alonso left the Olympic site without authorization to explore Paris, including a visit to Disneyland Paris. She posted photos of her trip, which reportedly caused unrest among her teammates.
Alonso’s Response and Retirement Reflections
Alonso, now back in the US, denies being expelled, stating, “I was never kicked out or expelled from anywhere. Please stop spreading false information.” She also expressed gratitude for her swimming career, saying, “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”
“Her presence was creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay. We appreciate that she voluntarily chose not to stay in the athletes’ village,” the team stated.
The swimmer, who has over 500,000 Instagram followers, confirmed on social media that she has returned to the United States.
Alonso finished sixth in her heat, narrowly missing the semi-finals. She announced her retirement from the sport but stayed in Paris after completing her Olympic commitments.
The reason for Luana Alonso’s expulsion remains unclear, but Camilo Pérez, president of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, described it as a “minor act of indiscipline” on ABC Cardinal radio.
Reports suggest Alonso left the Olympic site to explore Paris without authorization, which is considered a serious breach of protocol. She reportedly went sightseeing, including a visit to Disneyland Paris, and posted photos of herself in Disneyland and toasting champagne, causing unrest among her teammates.
Alonso, who has returned to the US, denies being expelled, stating, “I was never kicked out or expelled from anywhere. Please stop spreading false information.”
“I don’t want to comment further, but I won’t let falsehoods affect me,” Alonso said.
In announcing her retirement, Alonso expressed gratitude: “Swimming, thank you for the dreams, lessons in perseverance, sacrifice, and discipline. I gave you part of my life and wouldn’t trade it for anything because of the incredible experiences, joys, and friendships I gained. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”
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