Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso was expelled from the Olympic Village for creating an "inappropriate atmosphere" within her team, according to a statement from the Paraguayan Olympic Committee on Monday.
“Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay,” Larissa Schaerer, head of the POC, said in a statement acquired by The Sun.
“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 announced her retirement from the sport after failing to advance out of her heat in the women’s 100m butterfly semifinals. She reportedly continued to stay in the Olympic Village despite her retirement announcement.
“It’s official! I’m retiring from swimming, thank you all so much for your support!” Alonso wrote on Instagram. “Sorry Paraguay. I just have to say thank you!”
“Swimming: thank you for allowing me to dream, you taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline and many more things," she added in a follow-up post. “I gave you part of my life and I wouldn’t change that 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, unique opportunities. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”
Paraguayan media outlets reported that Olympic leadership was unhappy with Alonso for spending time at Disneyland instead of supporting her teammates. The Daily Mail reported that her presence had become a "distraction" as she socialized with other athletes.
Alonso has not yet addressed her expulsion from the Olympic Village.
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