'Inappropriate atmosphere': Paraguay swimmer refutes claims she was kicked out of Olympic Village in Paris
A Paraguayan swimmer denied she was removed from the athlete's village in Paris after being accused of creating an "inappropriate atmosphere" by team officials.
Luana Alonso, a 20-year-old swimmer who announced her retirement from the sport after she failed to qualify from her heat last week in the 100m butterfly, is said to have left the French capital after being suspended from the village, according to reports.
Team officials have been tight-lipped about the reasons behind the decision, offering a vague explanation.
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Larissa Schaerer, a former tennis player who represented Paraguay at the 1992 Olympics, 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."
The swimmer, who has more than half a million followers on Instagram, posted to social media to indicate she is back in the United States.
Luana Alonso Instagram
Alonso finished sixth in her heat to miss out narrowly on the semi-finals, announcing her retirement from the sport while remaining in Paris after her Olympic commitments were done.
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The reason behind her expulsion has been shrouded in secrecy in Paris but Camilo Pérez, president of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, described the incident as a "small act of indiscipline" to ABC Cardinal radio.
Spanish-speaking news sites have also gleaned some light on the circumstances surrounding Alonso's banishment from the athlete's village.
It's understood Alonso left the Olympic site to walk through the Parisian streets and iconic places without authorisation. Doing so without notification from the Paraguayan Olympic Committee is considered a serious breach of protocol.
Alonso reportedly went sightseeing in Paris while her teammates competed, and posted photos of her trip to Disneyland Paris on social media, which generated unrest among the Paraguay team.
Alonso posted pics of her time in Paris. Instagram
The swimmer disputes claims she was kicked out of the athlete's village. Instagram
Alonso wore Mickey Mouse ears in front of the castle at Disneyland Park, with other images showing the swimmer toasting champagne.
A separate report by The Daily Mail said Alonso's "skimpy clothing and socialising with other athletes" became a distraction for her Paraguay teammates.
In response to claims she was kicked out, Alonso rejected that assertion after landing in the US.
"I just wanted to clarify that I was never kicked out or expelled from anywhere, please stop spreading false information.
Alonso was eliminated in the heats of the 100m freestyle. Instagram
"I don't want to make any statement but I'm not going to let lies affect me either."
In announcing her retirement from competitive swimming, Alonso 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 won't change it for anything in the world because I lived the best experiences of my life, you gave me thousands of joys, friends from other countries that I will always carry in my heart, [and] unique opportunities. It's not goodbye, it's see you soon."
