Luana Alonso Ousted from Olympics by Paraguay; Accused of ‘Inappropriate Atmosphere’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVAugust 5, 2024

YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images

Paraguay swimmer Luana Alonso announced her retirement on Instagram after failing to advance through the 100m butterfly heats in the 2024 Paris Olympics, but that was not the only headline she made.

Jason Hall of Fox Sports 1300 noted she remained in the Olympic Village despite her retirement announcement and then, according to Paraguayan media outlets, went to Disneyland Paris instead of staying to support her teammates.

That did not sit well with the country’s Olympic leadership, which decided to send her home.

“Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay,” Paraguayan Olympic Committee boss Larissa Schaerer said in a statement, per The Sun.

“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.”

According to TMZ Sports, Alonso was initially granted permission to leave the Olympic Village following her retirement but then decided to return the following day. She was then told to leave.

While Alonso finished in sixth place in the first heat and did not advance in the 100m butterfly, American Tori Huske won the gold. American Gretchen Walsh captured silver, while China’s Zhang Yufei won bronze.