Glamorous viral Olympian Luana Alonso returns to training – despite retiring from swimming – after being cautioned for ‘inappropriate conduct’ in the athletes village
- 20-year-old quits the discipline shortly after her performance in Paris
- It is now believed that Alonso has returned to the United States, where she is studying
- COP head of mission called her athlete to account after she left the complex in a hurry
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has resurfaced after she was reportedly removed from the Olympic village for creating an “inappropriate atmosphere” with her behaviour.
The glamorous athlete went viral on social media during the two-week competition, despite failing to qualify for the semi-finals of her 100m butterfly in Paris.
But Alonso’s newfound fame had more to do with her hasty departure from the French capital.
It is believed that team leaders were bothered by the swimmer distracting her teammates, planning trips to Paris away from the village, and choosing her own clothing rather than the team’s uniforms.
Alonso herself posted a message on social media claiming that she “didn’t want to make a statement” but that she “wouldn’t let the lies affect me either.”
Paraguayan Olympic athlete Luana Alonso said she was back in the gym after a turbulent period in the French capital
The 20-year-old caused a stir three years after her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games
Alonso was criticised by her country’s Olympic Committee for creating an “inappropriate atmosphere” in the athletes’ village
The 20-year-old has since returned to social media, posting a photo of herself in the gym, working out again.
Alonso tagged her sports sponsor in the post, seemingly indicating she was preparing for a return to the pool.
But the swimmer retired from this discipline shortly after her participation in the Games.
Alonso previously swam at the collegiate level for Southern Methodist University and Virginia Tech.
“Swimming: Thank you for making me dream. You taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline and much more,” Alonso wrote two weeks ago, three years after she first competed at the Tokyo Olympics.
During her stay in Paris, Alonso took time to leave the Olympic complex and explore the city
The swimmer is believed to have angered Paraguayan authorities with a trip to Disneyland Paris
Alonso also collected a lot of selfies with famous faces, including tennis icon Rafael Nadal
‘I gave you a part of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, because I’ve had the best experiences of my life. You’ve given me thousands of joys, friends from other countries that I’ll always carry in my heart, unique opportunities.
“It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.”
The fact that Alonso left the Olympic Village earlier than planned, and that the retired athlete insisted it was her own decision, remains shrouded in mystery.
The Paraguayan Olympic Committee said in an interview with Le Parisien last week that the swimmer left of her own free will, but stressed that the young woman made other athletes and the country’s delegation feel uncomfortable.
But Alonson was quick to insist that she had not been asked to leave, but had chosen to do so herself
The student, who lives in the United States, is said to have gone home earlier
Paraguay’s Olympic leaders have insisted there is no “major drama” over Alonso’s escapades
A representative of the committee told the French media: ‘She withdrew from the swim and that’s why she left. She was never excluded.
‘When she stopped, she started acting in an individualistic way and not like a member of the team anymore.
“That’s what made the other athletes and the delegation uncomfortable. That’s all. There’s no big drama.”
But in an even more damning statement, Larissa Schaerer, head of the COP mission, said Alonso’s presence “created an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay”.