In a message shared Monday on her Instagram Stories, the 20-year-old competitor — who has been accused of being a distraction to athletes with her attire and socializing — called the narrative surrounding the controversy “false.”
“I just wanted to make it clear that I was never removed or expelled from anywhere, stop spreading false information,” Alonso wrote, according to the Daily Beast .
“I don’t want to give any statement but I’m not going to let lies affect me either.”
Luana Alonso has addressed the controversy swirling around her alleged Olympic Village ouster. Instagram / @luanalonsom The swimmer shared a message Monday on her Instagram Stories. Instagram
The message was shared next to a sunset photo as she sipped a beverage.
It had been reported in Paraguayan media outlets that Alonso — whose profile was on the rise ahead of the Games — took in Disneyland Paris instead of cheering on her compatriots, allegedly upsetting the country’s Olympic brass.
Luana Alonso is seen at Disneyland Paris in an Instagram Story. Instagram / @luanalonsom
Luana Alonso competed at the 2024 Paris Games and later announced her retirement. Instagram / @luanalonsom
In an Instagram Story shared one week ago, Alonso could be seen modeling Mickey Mouse ears while at the theme park.
Alonso failed to advance out of her heat in the women’s 100m butterfly and into the semifinals last week. She then announced her retirement .
The two-time Olympian — who also traveled to the Tokyo Games in 2021 — reportedly had been staying in the Olympic Village even after confirming her retirement.
Ana Nizharadze (R) of Team Georgia, Oumy Diop (C) of Team Senegal and Luana Alonso (L) of Team Paraguay prepare to compete in the Women’s 100m Butterfly Heats on July 27, 2024. Getty Images
Larissa Schaerer, the head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, said in a recent statement that Alonso’s “presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay.”
Luana Alonso boasts nearly 700,000 Instagram followers. Instagram / @luanalonsom
“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,” Schaerer said, per The Sun .
Alonso is based in Dallas and has competed at Southern Methodist University, according to her Instagram bio.
She boasts nearly 700,000 followers on the platform.
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