One of the most glamorous stars at the Olympics has been removed from the official athletes village after allegedly creating an ‘inappropriate environment.’
Athletes competing in the Games take up residency in the village where competitors are allowed to mix together, train, eat and relax alongside one another.
However, team Paraguay have asked one of their stars to leave the village after refusing to allow them to stay until the end of the competition that officially closes on Sunday, August 11.
Swimmer Luana Alonso endured a torrid participation at the Games as she finished sixth in the 100m butterfly – 0.24 seconds behind Georgia’s Ana Nizharadze – and narrowly missing out on qualifying for the semi-finals of the event.
She then sensationally announced her retirement from swimming in a social media post to her nearly 500,000 Instagram followers, but has remained in Paris ever since.
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has been removed from the official athletes village
Alonso allegedly ‘created an inappropriate environment’ leading to her removal
Alonso, pictured during the opening ceremony, boasts an Instagram following of nearly 500,000
The 20-year-old has since retired from swimming after finishing sixth in her only swim at the Games
Alonso (seen left before her race) narrowly missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals of the 100m butterfly
Now, the Paraguayan team have removed the 20-year-old from the athletes village and cited Alonso’s ‘inappropriate behaviour’ as justification for doing so as the Olympics enters its final week of competition.
The statement did not expand on what her inappropriate behaviour was.
A statement from Larissa Schaerer, the head of the COP mission, read: ‘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 Instagram story suggest she has since jetted back to the United States where she attends school after posting a short video on social media showing her driving towards a border control crossing.
Alonso confirmed her retirement with this message that she posted onto Instagram
Alonso bumped into Rafael Nadal (right) during the games and shared a snap of the pair on X
The Paraguay star started swimming at a young age and first competed at 11 years old
The swimmer wasn’t permitted by her team to remain at the athletes village until the end of the Games
Alonso previously raced in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were pushed back due to COVID
The Paraguayan previously made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games four years previous and is amongst the youngest competitors to retire at the age of just 20.
Confirming her retirement last week, 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 don’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 them in my heart, unique opportunities.
‘It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.’
Earlier last week, she posted a picture on her X account with Rafael Nadal.
Alonso was congratulated by many on social media after the news of retirement, but clarified that she had made the decision a long time ago in an interview with Claro Sports.
In an Instagram story on Sunday night she appeared to confirm she has jetted to the United States
‘People, my decision was made a long time ago! It wasn’t because of the games! So nothing, I just have to thank everyone who always supported me.
‘It didn’t happen the way I wanted it to. I sincerely apologise to Paraguay, but I did what I could, despite several things that happened to me before. So, I’m happy and also to retire here with a full stadium and finally have the Olympic Games.’
Alonso had previously competed at the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo at 17 years old.
The 20-year-old also appeared at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary and at the South American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, that same year.
She attends the Southern Methodist University near Dallas Texas and also swims for the Dallas Mustangs.
