Luana Alonso claims that she was not kicked out of the Olympics despite what Team Paraguay said in a statement about her presence in Paris. The former SMU and Virginia Tech swimmer denies any such claims made by the delegation.
It creates an extremely muddy picture of what happened — or did not happen.
Alonso, 20, competed in just one event for her home country. She failed to make it out of her heat in 100-meter butterfly and did not make the semifinals. That event took place on July 27, the first day of competition.
Even though she was eliminated on Day 1, Alonso decided to stay in the Olympic Village for the remainder of the Games. That was the plan, at least.
Paraguay supposedly gave her the boot over the weekend. The Paraguayan Olympic Committee said she was removed from the team and did not offer any further explanation for the decision. Alonso was indeed back home in the United States on Monday.
According to multiple reports, the now-retired swimmer ditched her team to go to Disneyland in Paris. Team officials were furious with the unexcused absence and sent her home as punishment.
Alonso says that is entirely untrue.
Well, she says that she was not expelled. She didn’t give much of an explanation (read: any explanation) about what actually went down.
Alonso’s post is a denial. A loose translation is as follows:
I just want to clarify that they (Paraguay) never took me out or expelled me from anywhere, stop spreading false information. I don’t want to give any statement but I’m not going to let the lies affect me either.
— Luana Alonso
The lack of statement certainly doesn’t help clear things up. No further information was provided.
Team Paraguay says that it removed Luana Alonso from the Olympics because she “created an inappropriate atmosphere.” Luana Alonso says she did not create an inappropriate atmosphere and was not sent home by the delegation. Who are we supposed to believe? That is up to you.
Regardless of how things actually played out, Alonso has since retired from swimming.
She actually did so before her trip to Paris but came out of retirement for the 100-meter butterfly. Her career is now over. At least for the time being.