Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has been disqualified from the Olympic Village after authorities noted that her presence created an “inappropriate environment.” The decision follows Alonso’s disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics, where she placed sixth in the preliminary heats for the 50m, 100m, and 200m butterfly events.
Alonso, who held multiple Paraguayan records in butterfly swimming, faced internal team tension after her performance, which allegedly led to a confrontation and her subsequent announcement of retirement from the competition.
Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic mission, issued an email on August 1 instructing Alonso’s immediate removal from the Athletes’ Village. The email stated that Alonso’s departure was both requested by the athlete and authorized by the Head of Mission. She noted that Alonso’s presence “had created an inappropriate environment for the Paraguayan team.”
Alonso has since returned to Dallas, Texas, where she is currently pursuing higher education. Addressing the situation on social media, the athlete denied being expelled against her will and refuted false claims, stating, “I was never kicked out or expelled from anywhere, please stop spreading false information.”
Despite her previous achievements, including three medals at the 2022 South American Rosario Youth Games, Alonso has indicated that swimming is not her ultimate career goal. In a recent interview, she expressed her emotional response to her final race, saying, “I love swimming competitively, but that’s not what I want for my life.”
