The Paraguayan swimmer Luna Alonso was expelled from the Olympic Village of Paris 2024 due to an act of indiscipline that is being investigated by the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP). The 20-year-old athlete left the Village without authorization after being eliminated in the 100-meter butterfly event.
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The incident occurred on Saturday, July 27, after Alonso finished her participation in the Olympic Games, ending in the last position of her heat with a time of 1:03.09. After the competition, Alonso announced her retirement from swimming, a decision she communicated through her social media, thanking for the support received throughout her career and apologizing to Paraguay.
The situation was described as a “minor act of indiscipline” by Camilo Pérez, president of the COP. Pérez stated to radio ABC Cardinal that Alonso’s behavior was not normal and that the committee would investigate the case upon the delegation’s return to Paraguay. Furthermore, a detailed report from Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan mission in Paris 2024, is expected on the reasons for Alonso’s departure.
Luna Alonso, who made her debut in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has had a distinguished career but decided to retire from swimming to focus on her studies in Political Science in the United States, with the aspiration of becoming the Minister of Sports of her country. In an interview with Claro Sports, Alonso expressed her satisfaction for having finished her sports career in an Olympic competition and reiterated her commitment to her future studies.
Alonso’s departure from the Olympic Village without proper permission has sparked a debate in Paraguay regarding the discipline and behavior of athletes. The situation was complicated by her decision not to inform COP officials about her departure or her retirement from swimming, which was considered a lack of respect and professionalism.
The Paraguayan Olympic Committee will thoroughly review the incident and take the necessary measures to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
The COP has indicated that, although the act of indiscipline is considered minor, necessary measures will not be taken lightly to ensure that all athletes understand the importance of following the established rules during international events. Alonso’s indiscipline not only affects her personal image but also puts into question the discipline and cohesion of the Paraguayan Olympic team.
Meanwhile, Alonso has defended her decision to leave the Village and retire from swimming, explaining that it was a decision made beforehand and not influenced by the recent events in Paris.
DANIELA GUTIÉRREZ MUNAR
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