Paraguayan Olympic swimmer Luana Alonso took to Instagram to dispel the ‘lies’
While the Olympics is known for incredible sporting feats, there seems to have been just as many surprises outside of the events.
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso was reportedly asked to leave the Olympic Village by her team and go home in a surprising turn of events.
The swimmer currently holds Paraguayan records in the 50m, 100m and 200m Butterfly events, however, she had an underwhelming run at the Olympic Games this year.
Team Paraguay (COP) issued a statement saying Alonso had created an ‘inappropriate environment’ but did not go into further details about what that meant.
Larissa Schaerer, the head of the COP, said: “Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay.
Luana Alonso had a disappointing run in her events at this year’s Olympics. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“We thank her for proceeding as instructed, as it was of her own free will that she did not spend the night in the Athletes’ Village.”
Alonso hasn’t given much more information about the whole drama herself but her Instagram page shows the 20-year-old has since returned to US, where she is studying at a university in Dallas, Texas.
Alonso admitted she isn’t yet ready to issue an official statement about what occurred but has taken to social media to address the ‘lies’ that have begun circulating since her departure.
She wrote: “I just wanted to clarify that I was never kicked out or expelled from anywhere, please stop spreading false information.
“I don’t want to make any statement but I’m not going to let lies affect me either.”
Alonso also announced that she would retiring from swimming but insisted it had nothing to do with her performance at this year’s games.
The athlete went out of the games after finishing sixth in the Women’s 100m Butterfly heats and failed to qualify for the semi-finals with her time of 1:03.09 – three seconds below her personal best.
Alonso took to Instagram to dispel the ‘lies’. (Instagram/@luanalonsom)
On her retirement, the swimmer said: “It’s official now! I’m retiring from swimming, thank you all so much for the support! Sorry Paraguay, I only have to thank you.
“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 don’t change it for anything in the world because I lived the best experiences of my life, you gave me thousands of joys, friends from other countries that I will always carry them in my heart, unique opportunities.
“It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”
UNILAD has previously contacted POC and Alonso for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@luanalonsom
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