In a surprising twist ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has stirred controversy by expressing a preference to represent the United States rather than her home country. Reports from Paraguayan media outlet HOY reveal that Alonso, who has competed in the U.S. collegiate swimming system, was vocal about her desire to join Team USA, citing the more rigorous Olympic qualification process and her connection to American institutions.
Alonso, a 20-year-old swimmer, was caught on social media complaining about her treatment by the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP). According to the report, Alonso criticized the COP’s handling of its athletes, alleging that they were pressuring her and attempting to discredit her achievements. “They threaten me that they are going to publish a statement saying I’m leaving because of universality,” Alonso reportedly said. “If I support my sport, it is thanks to my sponsors. They want to humiliate me and say it’s not a big deal that I am leaving because of universality.”
The universality system, designed to ensure broader representation at the Olympics, allowed Alonso to qualify for the women’s 100-meter butterfly. Despite this, she expressed frustration with her experience representing Paraguay, claiming that her relationship with teammates and officials was fraught with tension. “It’s not a pleasure to represent Paraguay,” she stated. “If it were up to me, I would go back to college.”
Alonso’s desire to represent the U.S. and her critical remarks about the Paraguayan system have been met with backlash. Camilo Perez, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, was quick to call out Alonso’s ambitions, arguing that her performance wouldn’t meet the standards required to compete for Team USA. “There is no universality there,” Perez said. “She came here as a Paraguayan. She has to train a lot more to represent the USA; her times have to be much better.”
The swimmer’s journey has been tumultuous, marked by her unexpected decision to retire from swimming just a day after failing to advance past the heats on July 27. Alonso’s swift departure from the sport came shortly after she had inked a tattoo of the Olympic rings on her hip—a gesture that seemed to symbolize her commitment to the Games.
Further adding to the drama, Alonso was reportedly expelled from the Olympic Village due to what the Paraguayan Olympic Committee described as “inappropriate” behavior. According to Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Alonso’s presence was deemed disruptive to the team’s morale. “Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay,” Schaerer commented. Alonso allegedly visited Disneyland and wore revealing outfits, which were deemed unprofessional for the Olympic setting.
In response to these accusations, Alonso took to Instagram to deny the claims of her expulsion, branding them as false. “I just wanted to make it clear that I was never removed or expelled from anywhere,” Alonso wrote. “I’m not going to let lies affect me either.”
Alonso’s turbulent Olympic experience and controversial statements have stirred debate over athlete representation and national loyalty, highlighting the complexities of international sports politics and personal ambition.