Aug 7, 2024, 06:08 PM IST
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso, 20, was expelled from the Paris Olympics athletes' village due to “inappropriate” behavior.
Alonso failed to advance past the women’s 100m butterfly heats on July 27 and left the village to visit Disneyland instead of supporting her teammates.
The Paraguayan Olympic Committee's Larissa Schaerer cited Alonso's presence as creating an "inappropriate atmosphere" and confirmed her removal was voluntary.
Following her expulsion, Alonso announced her retirement from swimming after narrowly missing the semi-finals.
Alonso thanked her supporters and expressed regret to Paraguay in a post, announcing her retirement with a photo from the Olympics.
In a follow-up Instagram post, Alonso shared a carousel of photos diving into the Olympic pool, reflecting on her swimming career.
She expressed gratitude for the sport, mentioning the lessons of perseverance, sacrifice, and discipline she learned.
Alonso described her departure as “see you soon” rather than a final goodbye, cherishing the experiences and friendships gained from her career.