New York: According to a report, swimmer Luana Alonso of Paraguay, who gained notoriety for her contentious exit from the Olympic Village, wishes to represent the United States rather than her native nation.
Who is Luana Alonso, swimmer who got kicked out of #Olympics village due to ‘inappropriate conduct’?
Luana Alonso is a Paraguayan swimmer who gained notoriety during the 2024 Paris Olympics. She competed in the women’s 100m butterfly heats but failed to advance to the… pic.twitter.com/FGh1IBeuPO
— The NewsWale (@TheNewswale) August 8, 2024
Luana Alonso: Desire to Compete for the U.S.
According to the Paraguayan site HOY, Alonso, 20, had stated that she would have preferred to represent the United States, noting her close ties to the nation where she completed her undergraduate education. Alonso is said to have said, “I want to represent the United States more,” in a livestream on social media before the Olympics.
Alonso spent the 2021–2022 season at Virginia Tech University before switching to swimming for Southern Methodist University (SMU). The swimmer said that her goals were better served by the US’s more competitive atmosphere.
Controversy Surrounding Alonso’s Olympic Journey
Even before she stepped into the pool, controversy dogged her Olympic career. Alonso used the universality system to earn a spot in the women’s 100-meter butterfly competition. Her relationship with her teammates and the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) appeared tense despite this accomplishment.
Alonso did not hold back when criticizing the COP’s handling of its players in her social media video. She said the committee did not support her enough and that they undermined her accomplishments by depending too much on sponsors. She said that the COP was trying to degrade her by downplaying her qualifications. “They threaten me that they are going to publish a statement, that I am going to leave because of universality,” the woman stated. Alonso also expressed her annoyance at the lack of confidence and support.
COP’s Response and Allegations Against Alonso
In a scathing response to Alonso’s remarks, COP President Camilo Perez noted that her performance would not match the high requirements needed to earn a spot on Team USA for the Olympics. “That is not universal in any way. She is a Paraguayan who arrived here. To represent the United States, she needs to have more training and better times,” Perez stated.
Alonso’s purported expulsion from the Olympic Village for engaging in “inappropriate” behavior—which allegedly included visiting Disneyland and dressing in skimpy clothing that other competitors found distracting—further intensified the dispute. Alonso refuted the allegations of her dismissal in a statement, disputing the rumors and announcing that she had not caused any trouble.
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