Brazilian swimmer breaks silence after she was BANISHED from the Olympics for sneaking out of the Athletes’ Village without permission ‘to go on a night out in Paris’ with her boyfriend
A Brazilian swimmer who was expelled from the Olympic Games after sneaking out of the athletes’ village with her boyfriend to “have a night out in Paris” has broken her silence after being sent home.
Ana Carolina Vieira and Gabriel Santos were reportedly caught trying to leave the Olympic Village after she fell during the 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday, with Brazil finishing seventh in the women’s second heat.
The incident took place on July 26, when the 22-year-old left the village without permission. But when she was reprimanded by the Brazilian Olympic Committee for the indiscretion, Carolina Vieira allegedly assaulted them and was sent home.
The governing body called her response “disrespectful and aggressively challenging.”
“The Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports (CBDA), the COB, has decided to punish the two athletes for leaving the Olympic Village without permission last Friday,” the body’s statement began.
Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira (pictured) has broken her silence after being banned from the Paris Olympics
The 22-year-old was sent home after slipping out of the village without permission
The 22-year-old was accompanied by her partner, Brazilian swimmer Gabriel Santos (right)
‘In addition, the athlete Ana Carolina has disrespectfully and aggressively challenged the technical decision of the Brazilian swimming team committee.
‘Athlete Gabriel Santos was punished with a warning and athlete Ana Carolina Vieira was punished with expulsion from the delegation. She will return to Brazil immediately.’
However, Carolina Vieira has since spoken out on the matter, claiming on her Instagram story that she did nothing wrong, and according to Tijlhas “filed a harassment complaint with the COB.” According to the outlet, she claims her complaint “was reportedly ignored.”
“I left there and left my stuff behind. I didn’t know what to do.”
My stuff is there [in the Olympic Village]I went to the airport in shorts. I had to open my suitcase at the airport. I am in Portugal, I am going to Recife and then to São Paulo.
‘I am helpless, I have not had access to anything, I have not been able to talk to anyone. They said I should contact the COB channels. But how am I going to contact them?
Vieira was immediately sent back to Brazil after responding to the reprimand, while Santos was given a warning and apologized
The Brazilian sports federation described her reaction as “disrespectful and aggressively challenging”
Carolina Vieira (left) is from Sao Paulo, Brazil and previously represented her country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
‘I have already filed a complaint about harassment and nothing has been resolved, harassment within the team’
She added: ‘I will talk to my lawyers. I promise to tell everything. I am sad, nervous, but with a calm heart because I know who I am, I know what my character and my nature are.’
Brazil swimming team leader Gustavo Otsuka told Reuters: “We are not here to play or go on holiday.
‘We are here to work for Brazil, for the 200 million taxpayers who work for us. We cannot play here.
“She took a completely inappropriate position to make her point, her bewilderment, about the composition of the relay.”
Vieira shared a photo of the couple outside the Eiffel Tower ahead of the start of the Games
Carolina Vieira, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, previously represented her country at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where her team finished twelfth in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.
Santos meanwhile competed in his third Olympic Games, after making his debut in Rio in 2016.
Her expulsion from Paris is not the first time she has found herself in trouble at a swimming competition, after she got into an on-stage altercation with fellow Brazilian Jhennifer Conceicao during the final of the 2023 Brazilian Championships, according to UOL.