Olympic Swimmer Luana Alonso Denies Being Removed From Village for “Inappropriate” Behavior
Luana Alonso is not going to let this rumor flip turn away from her.
After reports surfaced that the swimmer from Paraguay was sent home from the 2024 Paris Olympics for allegedly “creating an inappropriate atmosphere” within her country’s delegation, Luana is slamming the allegation.
“I just wanted to clarify that I was never removed or expelled from anywhere, stop spreading false information,” the 20-year-old wrote on her Instagram Story August 5, as translated by E! News. “I don't want to give any statement, but neither am I going to let lies affect me.”
Luana’s denial comes just a day after multiple outlets reported she’d been asked to leave the Olympic Village by Paraguay’s Olympic Committee.
As the head of the Committee Larissa Schaerer reportedly shared in a statement to The Sun, "Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay. 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."
Though the statement did not elaborate on Luana’s actions, The Sun claimed that the swimmer spent the night out in Paris and went to Disneyland rather than stay in the Olympic Village with her teammates after she didn’t progress to the semi-final heats of the women’s 100m butterfly.
Following her loss, Luana announced her retirement from swimming.
“It's official now,” she captioned a July 27 post. “I'm retiring from swimming, thank you all so much for the support! Sorry Paraguay. All that remains is to thank you!”
The following day, Luana elaborated on her decision, looking back at her many years in the sport.
“Swimming: thank you for allowing me to dream,” she wrote under images of herself at the Olympic starting block. “You taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline and many more things.”
She continued, “I gave you part of my life and this I wouldn’t change for anything in the world because I lived the best experiences of my life, you gave my thousands of joys, friends from other countries I will always carry in my heart, unique opportunities. This is not a goodbye, it’s a see you soon.”
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