Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has broken her silence after being removed from the athletes’ village at the Paris Olympics.
On Monday, it was reported that Alonso, 20, was removed from the village for creating an ‘inappropriate environment’.
The young swimmer took part in the women’s 100m butterfly event but was knocked out in the first round after finishing in sixth place.
After the race, she revealed that that was her last race and she was going to retire from the sport.
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Speaking to South American media outlet Claro Sports, she said: “I am very emotional because it was my last race, I am retiring from swimming.”
It was then revealed that she has been removed from the athletes’ village, the head of the COP mission, Larissa Schaerer said: “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."
There has been no explanation regarding the reported ‘inappropriate’ but Alonso has now broken her silence.
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Taking to social media, she posted: “I just wanted to clarify that I was never removed or expelled from anywhere, stop spreading false information.
“I don’t want to give any statement but I’m not going to let lies affect me either.”
Bidding farewell to swimming, Alonso wrote in an emotional post: “Swimming: thank you for allowing me to dream, you taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline and many more.
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“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.”
Alonso also said that she will be focusing on a new career after swimming, she added: “I’m going to go to study in the United States, to continue with my career in Political Science.
“And, why not, to be a minister of the court one day because, as an athlete, I know what all athletes suffer and I want to help them promote sport.”
Marcus Chan