Sports
Swimmer Takes Olympic Exit into Her Own Hands Amid Social Media Firestorm
Clear Facts
- Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso denies reports she was expelled from the Olympics, asserting she retired voluntarily.
- Local news reported that Team Paraguay’s chef de mission in Paris requested Alonso’s departure due to her social media conduct, a claim Alonso refutes.
- The athlete’s social media presence burgeoned following the incident, gaining 250,000 new followers within a week.
Luana Alonso, a Paraguayan swimmer, has refuted allegations that she was dismissed from the Olympic Games. Contrary to reports, Alonso insists she chose to retire independently.
Claims surfaced from a local newspaper in Paraguay that the swimmer expressed her reluctance to represent her home country during a livestream, stating, “I want to represent the United States more.”
Larissa Schaerer, Paraguay’s chef de mission in Paris, allegedly requested Alonso to vacate the Olympic Village due to her social media behavior. Schaerer’s message to Alonso purportedly accused her of “creating an inappropriate atmosphere at the heart of Team Paraguay.”
Contradicting these reports, Alonso, who is known for maintaining a regular social media presence, declared that she was not asked to leave the Olympic Games.
The 20-year-old, Texas-born athlete emotionally announced her retirement from swimming after being eliminated from the women’s 100m butterfly heats.
While in Paris, Alonso actively shared selfies on her social media accounts, often posing in bikinis and showcasing her fit physique to her nearly 750,000 followers. Despite ceasing her participation in the sport, she continued her stay in the athletes’ village.
Following a day of leisure at Disneyland Paris, Alonso decided to leave the French capital.
Upon her return to Texas, where she is a student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Alonso took to social media to share her side of the story.
“I just wanted to make it clear that I was never removed or expelled from anywhere, stop spreading false information,” she posted on her Instagram Story, adding, “I don’t want to give any statement but I’m not going to let lies affect me either.”
The local newspaper suggested that the tension between Alonso and team officials could be attributed to her qualifying for Paris under IOC’s “universality” rules, which allow additional spots for teams with athletes who have not met Olympic qualifying norms. Alonso, however, insisted that she could have qualified on her own.
Subsequent to this controversy, Alonso’s social media following saw a significant increase, with a surge of 250,000 followers within a week.
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FRANK ALEXANDER
August 11, 2024 at 9:18 pm
She has quite the figure, including the non-pneumatic boobs so many gals eschew – because so many Westerners lick their eyebrows over big ta-tas. (One never would guess I’m a fan of B-cup babes, right?) Only thing I can’t stand is that newer-style bikini bottom which shows off way too much. I much prefer the older-style bikini bottom which covered the butt cheeks and just plain looked…well, SEXIER than the high-rise bottoms which leave nothing to a guy’s (and I suppose I should acknowledge those few homosexual gals out there who usually are just guy wannabes) imagination. The old adage, “Why pay for the milk when you can get it for free?” applies here, as well. A woman who finds me interesting enough to get into serious action should, in turn, wear enough to make “exploration and discovery” alluring and interesting.
On the distaff side of the issue, I’ve been married for over 30 years to a gal, now in her 60s, who’s taken care of herself physically…enough so that REALLY young guys still crane their necks checking her out at the local supermarket or when we’re on the beach. (She makes no pretense of youth, either – ten years ago her hair started going from brunette to white…she just buys white hair rinse and the effect is electric.Of course, then again I’m somewhat biased. 😀 )