Paraguayan swimmer, Luana Alonso, who finished sixth in the first round of the 100m butterfly and nearly missed the semi-finals, has reportedly preferred representing the US over her home country, Paraguay. This has led to a major backlash and her removal from the athletes’ village.
The Controversy Unfolds
As per the reports from Paraguayan publican HOY, Alonso’s controversial comments were made before she completed in Paris. After she qualified for the Paris Olympics through the universality system, she said, “I want to represent the United States more.”
She also added that she felt threatened by the Paraguayan officials who said they might publicize a statement about her leaving due to the universality rule.
Luana Alonso swimmer also expressed that she is frustrated due to lack of support from her home country. In a statement, she said, “Instead of supporting and saying ‘damn, we trust the athletes,’ it’s more like ‘you’re going for the World Cup, we don’t care.’ That’s why it’s not a pleasure to represent Paraguay. If it were up to me, I would go back to college.”
Paraguayan Officials Reaction
The president of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Camilo Perez, responded to Luana’s claims by highlighting the arduous standards required to compete for the US. He said, “There is no universality there. She came here as a Paraguayan. She has to train a lot more to represent the USA; her times have to be much better.”
Luana Alonso, who attends Southern Methodist University near Dallas, Texas, and also swims for the Dallas Mustangs, was reportedly back in the US soon after the controversy came into the picture. She took to her Instagram story and shared herself in a car with the American flag flying outside.
Luana Alonso Questionable Behavior in Paris
After the competition, Luana announced her retirement through an Instagram post but stayed in Paris – wearing her own outfits instead of the official Paraguayan team uniforms. People spotted her socializing with other athletes – which distracted many of her teammates who were still competing.
Moreover, this Paraguayan swimmer checked into a Paris hotel and visited high-end stores and restaurants, sharing pictures online with her 600,000 social media followers.
The Paraguayan team cited Alonso’s “inappropriate behavior” as the reason she got removed from the Olympic Village. The official statement does not mention her behavior, but Larrisa Schaerer, the head of the COP mission, said, “Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay. 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.”
Alonso’s Response
In response to the allegations, Luana Alonso Instagram had a story that said, “I just wanted to clarify that I was never kicked out or expelled from anywhere. Please stop spreading false information. I don’t want to make any statement, but I’m not going to let lies affect me either.”
A Short Yet Eventful Olympic Journey
This young swimmer from Paraguay made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games four years ago. At the age of just 20, she becomes one of the youngest competitors to retire. Confirming her statement, Luana Alonso reflected on her journey and said, “Swimming: thank you for allowing me to dream. You taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline, and many more. I gave you part of my life, and I don’t change it for anything in the world because I lived the best experiences of my life. You gave me thousands of joys and friends from other countries that I will always carry in my heart.”
“It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”
Her departure from the Olympics may have been wrapped up in controversy, but her passion for the sport and the experiences she gained will undoubtedly stay with her forever.
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