Paraguayan Olympic swimmer Lanna Alonso has been expelled from the Olympic Village. According to Lissa Sherer, the head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, the 20-year-old athlete is accused of creating an “inappropriate atmosphere.” The statement thanked her for leaving the village willingly and not spending the night there.
The exact nature of Alonso’s inappropriate behaviour remains unclear, but local media reports suggest that she spent a night out in Paris and visited Disneyland instead of supporting her teammates. This followed her sixth-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly heat. Shortly after the race, Alonso announced her retirement from swimming on Instagram, thanking her supporters and expressing her gratitude for the lessons swimming taught her.
Alonso is not the only swimmer making headlines at the Paris Olympics. Brazilian swimmer Anna Carolina Vieira was also dismissed from the Games. Vieira and her boyfriend, teammate Gabriel Santos, left the Olympic Village without permission on July 26th. The Brazilian Olympic Committee discovered the infraction after Vieira posted photos on social media.
In an Instagram video, the 22-year-old swimmer explained that she received both negative and positive messages following the incident. She expressed sadness over the experience but reassured her fans that she was coping. Vieira had planned to compete in one more event but will now support her teammates from afar.
These incidents highlight the strict regulations athletes must adhere to during the Olympics and the consequences of breaching them. The dismissals of Alonso and Vieira serve as a reminder of the discipline and commitment required to compete at this level.