Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Olympics
Marcus Chan
Swimmer Luana Alonso has finally spoken out after claims that she was removed from the Olympic village in Paris.
Last summer, during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, it was reported that Paraguayan swimmer Alonso was removed from the village for creating an ‘inappropriate environment’.
The 21-year-old took part in the women’s 100m butterfly event but was knocked out in the first round after finishing in sixth place.
At the time, the head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Larissa Schaerer, said: "Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay.
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"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."
There was no explanation regarding the apparent ‘inappropriate atmosphere’, but as reported by the New York Post, Alonso has now spoken about the situation.
Taking to social media this week, Alonso simply wrote: "Let me make this clear: I left the Olympic Village on my own."
Alonso has previously hit back at the accusations, saying: "The Paraguayan Olympic team claimed I created an ‘inappropriate environment simply because I decided I didn’t want to swim anymore.
"They tried to take my accreditation away, but that’s not something they had the right to do. I chose not to hand it over and apparently that was ‘inappropriate’ to them."
The youngster also claimed that she would take legal action against news outlets that ran stories about the accusations.
She wrote: "I’m seriously considering legal action against the magazines and media outlets spreading false rumors like that I was expelled from the Olympic Village. Really? Who came up with that nonsense? Well that it’s not true.
"Seriously, this (sic) lies are wild and affecting my life, and that’s why I decided I’m keeping my life lowkey."
Alonso then teased a potential return to sport, she stated: "Next year I’m coming back. But I don’t know if I will be back to competitive swimming."