Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso denies expulsion from Paris Olympics amid controversy

Luana Alonso, a 20-year-old Paraguayan swimmer and influencer based in Texas, has denied allegations that she was expelled from the Paris Olympics. Following her exclusion from the Paraguayan team after the women's 100m butterfly heats, Alonso took to social media to clarify the situation.

Alonso announced her retirement from swimming after failing to progress in the heats, but she continued to post on social media and stay in the Olympic village. Her actions reportedly displeased team officials, leading to a standoff that lasted several days. During this time, Alonso visited Disneyland Paris before eventually returning to Texas, where she studies political science at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Alonso responded to the controversy through an Instagram Story on Monday, stating, "I just wanted to make it clear that I was never removed or expelled from anywhere, stop spreading false information." She emphasized her intention not to make further statements but insisted on correcting the record.

Paraguayan media, including Hoy newspaper, reported on an email from Paraguay’s chef de mission in Paris, Larissa Schaerer, which requested Alonso leave the Olympic village due to her activities "creating an inappropriate atmosphere at the heart of Team Paraguay." Additionally, Hoy noted Alonso's previous comments in a livestream expressing her preference to represent the United States over Paraguay.

Alonso's participation in the Paris Olympics came under the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) universality rules, which allow athletes from countries with no Olympic qualifiers to compete. Despite this, Alonso maintained that she could have qualified independently.

Despite the controversy, Alonso's social media presence has flourished. Her Instagram account saw a significant increase in followers, reaching over 700,000, up by approximately 250,000 within a week.