Key Takeaways:
* Paraguay’s Olympian swimmer, Luana Alonso, was asked to leave the Athlete’s Village in Paris due to her ‘inappropriate’ behavior.
* Alonso’s actions reportedly included wearing non-uniform attire and causing a disturbance to her competing teammates.
* The 20-year-old swimmer also announced her retirement from the sport in a heartfelt Instagram post.
* The retirement was not directly linked to the incident at the Paris Olympics.
Unexpected End to Olympics Journey for Luana Alonso
High hopes were tangled with disappointment as Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso’s journey at the Paris Olympics was cut short, followed by her dismissal from the Olympic Village. The decision came from her country’s Olympic committee, which cited her behavior as ‘inappropriate’.
Alonso, a young athlete who had already left her mark at the Tokyo Olympics at just 17, didn’t manage to secure a position in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m butterfly race. The controversy that led to her dismissal took place after her participation ended, leaving a somber note on her Olympics experience.
Paraguayan Olympic Committee head, Larissa Schaerer, issued a statement explaining the decision. “Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay,” Schaerer said.
Controversial Actions Stir Unrest
Further understanding of Alonso’s ‘inappropriate’ actions revealed that she allegedly violated some codes of conduct established by her country for the Olympic delegation. Reports suggested that she chose to wear outfits of her choice instead of the official kit provided by her country.
Further compounding the issue, her socializing behavior reportedly caused unwelcome distractions to her teammates who were still in the competition phase.
Setting another topic of concern, Alonso ventured outside the Olympic Village, enjoying the luxury of France’s high-end boutiques, eateries, and even Disneyland Paris. Hosting these experiences openly on social media didn’t sit well with her country’s Olympic committee.
Following the incident, Alonso was moved into a hotel from the Olympic Village. Despite this drastic action, she still remained in the vicinity to cheer on her teammates.
Retirement Beckons for Alonso
Meanwhile, the young swimmer had opted to share her heart-wrenching decision of retiring from swimming via Instagram. Describing her feelings as ‘bittersweet’, Alonso wrote, “I am retiring from swimming. 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 additionally clarified that her retirement decision was not a result of any incidents at the Paris Olympics.
Looking back on her journey, Alonso expressed gratitude towards the sport, her experiences, her friends from different countries and all the opportunities it presented her. Her post concluded on a hopeful note, “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”
Despite a rough end to her swimming career at the Paris Olympics, Luana Alonso’s passion and love for the sport remain unwavered. Her departure from competitive swimming is certain to leave a void in the Paraguayan swimming circuit in the days to come.