One of most glamorous competitors in the Olympics has been kicked out of the Athletes Village after being accused of distracting other competitors with her skimpy clothing and socialising with other athletes.
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso was told to leave after officials said she had created an ‘inappropriate atmosphere’ with her behaviour. The 20-year-old blonde, who lost her event on the first day of competition, had been seen walking round in her own choice of outfits rather than the official kit provided by Paraguayan team chiefs.
She has also been spotted socialising with other athletes and was said to be distracting her teammates still competing.
Alonso checked into a hotel in the French capital and visited high end boutiques and restaurants – and posted photos to her 500,000 followers on her social media.
Officials with the Paraguayan Olympic Committee took the decision to banish her from mixing with other team members after being alerted to her behaviour which was said to be causing a ‘distraction’.
It is usual for all athletes to stay until the end of the Olympics when they take part in the high-spirited closing ceremony – and later raucous parties in the host city.
The decision to send her packing early is a demonstration of the anger felt by the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and she was told to stay in a hotel rather than her shared accommodation in the athlete’s village where competitors can relax between events.
In a statement announcing her departure Paraguayan Olympic chief Larissa Schaerer said: “Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay.
“We thank her for proceeding as instructed, as it was of her own free will that she did not spend the night in the Athletes’ Village.”
During her stay in Paris she also fitted in a visit to Euro Disney posing with a pair of Mickey Mouse ears in front of the Magic Kingdom castle.
Alonso, who announced her retirement from the sport after failing to reach the semi-final in the butterfly heats, has since returned to the US where she is studying at a Texas university.
During a visit of the French capital Alonso stayed at the upmarket Hotel Pastel, close to the Arc de Triomphe, and visited many of the shops and museums that make Paris a popular tourist destination.
She visited France’s premier patisserie, Laduree, posted a photo of its internationally renowned macaroon cakes.
Luana also indulged in some expensive retail therapy at the clothes designer Yves Saint Laurent’s flagship store in the Champs Elysee and across the road to the headquarters of the fashion house Louis Vuitton.
While still welcome at the Olympics she also took the opportunity to watch her tennis heroes from the stands of Roland Garros, taking in games played by Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
Alonso crashed out of the games when she finished sixth in the 100m butterfly.
She promptly announced she was retiring from the sport -without first telling her Olympic chiefs – and informed her social media followers she had made the decision before flying to France.
The swimmer has made no mention of her sudden departure from Paris but a photo posted to her Instagram showed her approaching a border crossing in the US.
After failing to quality from her heat on July 27th Alonso announced : “It’s official now!
‘Swimming: thank you for allowing me to dream, you taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline and many more.
