Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso, who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, has strongly denied rumors that she was expelled from the Olympic Village due to alleged inappropriate behavior. The 20-year-old athlete took to social media to clarify that she voluntarily left Paris and was not suspended or removed from the Games.
The controversy surrounding Alonso began after she narrowly missed qualifying for the Women’s 100m Butterfly semi-final by just 0.24 seconds. Following this, Alonso announced her retirement from competitive swimming, which only added to the media speculation.
Reports suggested that Alonso’s actions off the pool deck created tension within Team Paraguay, leading to a request from Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, for her to leave the Olympic Village. Schaerer acknowledged that Alonso decided not to stay in the Athletes' Village and thanked her for her cooperation. The situation reportedly left Paraguayan officials concerned about the morale of the team.
Earlier in the competition, Alonso had announced her retirement after failing to advance beyond the heats in the Women’s 100m Butterfly event on July 27.
Who is Luana Alonso?
Background and Career: Born on September 19, 2004, Luana Alonso is a competitive swimmer from Paraguay, specializing in butterfly events. She holds Paraguay’s national record in the 100m butterfly.
Education: Alonso is currently studying at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, USA. She previously attended Virginia Tech for a brief period, according to US Weekly magazine.
Olympic Debut: Alonso first gained international attention when she represented Paraguay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at just 17 years old. She finished 28th in her event but did not advance to the semifinals.
2024 Paris Olympics: The 2024 Paris Olympics marked Alonso's second appearance at the Games. Unfortunately, she was eliminated in the heats after finishing sixth in her event. Alonso has also competed in the Youth Olympic Games, South American Games, and World Championships.
Controversy: Prior to the Paris Olympics, Alonso reportedly expressed a desire to represent the United States, stating during an Instagram live session that she preferred the U.S. over Paraguay. Local media claimed that she spent time at Disneyland rather than supporting her Paraguayan teammates.
A report by The Daily Mail suggested that Alonso’s behavior, including her choice of attire and interactions with other athletes, became a distraction at the Games. With a significant following on Instagram of over 898,000 followers, Alonso refuted these claims, stating, "I was never kicked out or expelled from anywhere. Please stop spreading false information."
After her elimination from the Olympics, Alonso confirmed her retirement from the sport, saying, "It was my last race. I am retiring from swimming."
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