Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has experienced a tumultuous time at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 20-year-old competitor announced her retirement after failing to progress from her heat in the women’s 100m butterfly event on July 27. Reports indicate that she was asked to leave the Olympic Village due to the negative environment her presence was creating within Team Paraguay, as stated by Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee.
Despite her decision to retire, it was noted that Alonso remained in the Olympic Village, which upset the team’s leadership. Paraguayan media reported that instead of supporting her teammates, Alonso had chosen to spend her time at Disneyland, further fueling discontent among Olympic officials. There were also claims that her attire and socializing habits became a distraction for other competitors.
In her heat, Alonso finished sixth with a time of 1:03.09, which was slower compared to her performance of 1:00.37 in the previous Tokyo Olympics. Following the event, Alonso confirmed her retirement on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the support she received and apologizing to her country.
In a heartfelt follow-up post, she reflected on her swimming journey, thanking the sport for teaching her valuable life lessons and sharing cherished experiences. Alonso hinted that she had foreseen the Paris Games as her last Olympic appearance, previously gaining attention for her Olympic rings tattoo. She leaves behind a successful 2023 season, where she achieved personal bests in the butterfly events and competed in the NCAA championships. Alonso has not yet publicly commented on her departure from the Olympic Village.