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  • The Mirror US

    Olympian with 500k Instagram followers sent home for causing 'inappropriate environment'

    By Charlie Wilson,

    3 hours ago

    Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso was removed from their section within the Olympic Village in Pari s after causing an "inappropriate environment" in and around the team, a statement from team officials claimed.

    Alonso was asked to leave immediately after missing out on a place in the semi-final, before abruptly retiring from swimming and returning to the United States.

    A big name in the sport with over 500,000 Instagram followers, fans had been eager to see her perform at the Olympics in Paris. But Alonso's campaign was effectively over before it could properly begin after she failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

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    Athletes who perform in the Olympic Games are welcome to remain in the village, where competitors are allowed to mix together throughout the games until it ends on August 11. However, Alonso was asked to leave early due to her alleged behavior, and is already back in the US.

    The statement from Larissa Schaerer, the head of the COP mission in Paraguay, 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 finished sixth in the 100m butterfly, before leaving the Olympic Village but remained in Paris for several days before deciding to retire and return to the US.

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    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=33jxSb_0uo3rSeo00

    In confirmation of her retirement, Alonso wrote to her followers on social media, stating: "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."

    Alonso had first made a name for herself at the Tokyo Olympics, seeing her social media platforms rise in followers exponentially, before moving to the United States to study at SMU in Texas. Alonso has over 475,000 followers on TikTok as well as 500,000 on Instagram.

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