Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has announced that she will retire from swimming after competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris at the age of 20.
The swimmer announced this on her Instagram on Saturday morning, prior to her participation in the first series of the women’s 100-meter butterfly.
Alonso, a student studying in the US, announced that she had qualified for the Paris Games. Hundreds of people congratulated her on social media for her achievement.
She finished sixth in the 100m butterfly, 0.24 seconds behind Georgia’s Ana Nizharadze, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the semi-finals of this event.
The Paraguayan confirmed the announcement on Instagram on Saturday morning, writing: ‘It’s official now! I’m retiring from swimming, thank you so much for your support! Sorry Paraguay, all I have to say is thank you!’
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso (pictured) has announced she will retire after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The swimmer made the announcement on her Instagram Saturday morning
Alonso previously competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed due to COVID
She wrote on Instagram: ‘It’s official now! I’m quitting swimming, thank you so much for all the support!’
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After the race, the 20-year-old was brought to tears as she took part in an interview with Claro Sports. She went on to talk about her decision to retire, saying she was “happy” to end her professional career at the Olympics.
“I’m very emotional because it was my last race. I’m quitting swimming. I’ve been swimming for so long, 18 years, and I have so many feelings,” she told the South American broadcaster Claro Sports after the event.
According to manufacturer Walter Estigarribia on X, The swimmer was ‘in tears’ when she gave the interview.
‘Unfortunately I have decided to retire and I am happy that my last competition is the Olympic Games.’
Earlier that week, she also posted a photo on her X account (formerly Twitter) with Rafael Nadal, who was in action with Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles on Saturday. The duo won against Argentina.
Alonso received a lot of congratulations on social media after the news, but indicated that she had made the decision a long time ago.
“People, my decision was made a long time ago! It wasn’t because of the games! Nothing, I just have to thank everyone who has always supported me,” she said, answering questions about why she had chosen to retire today.
She finished sixth in the 100m butterfly, 0.24 seconds behind Georgia’s Ana Nizharadze, narrowly missing out on qualification.
The 20-year-old wrote on Instagram: ‘I’m very emotional because it was my last race. I’m quitting swimming’
Alonso (left) also ran into Rafael Nadal (right) during the matches and shared a photo of the pair on X (formerly Twitter)
On missing out on qualifying, she added: ‘It didn’t go the way I wanted. I sincerely apologize to Paraguay.
She took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain that her decision to retire had been made months ago
Alonso, pictured at the opening ceremony, thanked fans for their support on social media
The swimmer was said to have been ‘in tears’ when she gave her interview to Claro Sports
Speaking about missing out on qualifying, she added to Claro Sports: ‘It didn’t go the way I wanted. I sincerely apologize to Paraguay, but I did what I could, despite several things that happened to me before. So I’m happy and also to retire here with a full stadium and finally have the Olympic Games.’
Alonso previously competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo at the age of 17.
The 20-year-old also competed at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary and the South American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, that same year.
She attends Southern Methodist University near Dallas, Texas, and also swims for the Dallas Mustangs.