Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has been kicked out of the Olympic Village for “creating an inappropriate atmosphere” within her country’s team.

Alonso, 20, was asked to leave the Village after failing to advance to the women’s 100m butterfly semifinals. She had reportedly been staying with the other athletes even after announcing her retirement from swimming.

“We thank her for proceeding as instructed, as it was of her own free will that she did not spend the night in the Athlete’s Village,” head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee Larissa Schaerer told the New York Post.

According to Paraguayan media outlets, Alonso left the premises and spent time in Disneyland while her teammates were competing, drawing criticism from her country and Olympic leadership. She was seen as a distraction to other athletes due to her skimpy clothing.

After finishing sixth in her heat, Alonso shared a heartfelt message on social media.

“Swimming: thank you for allowing me to dream, you taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline and many other things,” she wrote. “I gave you part of my life and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world because I lived the best experiences of my life, you gave me thousands of joys, friends from other countries that I will always carry in my heart, unique opportunities. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”

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Article by Ava Lombardi

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