20-year-old Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso, recently removed from the Paris 2024 Olympics Village for "inappropriate" behavior, has once again made headlines. During an interview on the Paraguayan radio show Aire de Todos, Alonso revealed that Brazilian footballer Neymar Junior had sent her a private message on Instagram a few years ago.
Alonso, a self-proclaimed fan of the former Brazil football captain, mentioned that Neymar reacted to one of her Instagram photos and even slid into her DMs. At the time, Alonso was 18 years old and had initially missed Neymar's message because it went to her message requests folder, leading to a delayed response. She chose not to reveal further details, stating, "He sent me a DM. That's all I can say," Alonso said on the show Aire de Todos as quoted by Fox Sports Mexico.
Paraguayan Swimmer Luana Alonso (Image: Reuters)
The controversy surrounding Alonso's exit from the Olympic Village has only added to the scrutiny. Her behavior reportedly caused tension within Team Paraguay, prompting Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, to request her departure. Schaerer later clarified that Alonso’s decision to leave was voluntary, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Alonso’s journey at the Paris Olympics took an unexpected turn when she narrowly missed qualifying for the women’s 100m butterfly semi-final by just 0.24 seconds. The disappointment in the pool was compounded by the controversy surrounding her conduct outside of it.
Shortly after failing to advance past the heats of the 100m butterfly event on July 27, 2024, Alonso announced her retirement from competitive swimming. The combination of her premature exit from the Olympic Village and her sudden retirement has left fans and sports analysts speculating about the future of this young athlete.
Meanwhile, Neymar, who has been recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in October, 2023, is expected to miss the start of the Saudi Pro League season due to his ongoing recovery, as confirmed by his club, Al Hilal. The 2024-25 Roshn Saudi Pro League season is set to begin from August 22-24.
Paraguayan Swimmer Luana Alonso (Image: AFP)
Who is Luana Alonso?
Luana María Alonso Méndez, born on March 19, 2004, in Asunción, Paraguay, is a retired Paraguayan swimmer renowned for her achievements in the butterfly discipline. Despite her young age, Alonso made significant strides in her swimming career, becoming one of Paraguay's most promising athletes.
Alonso made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, where she competed in the women's 100-meter butterfly event. Although she didn't advance past the heats, her participation marked a significant milestone in her career, representing Paraguay on the world stage. She holds multiple national records in the butterfly events, showcasing her dominance in the sport within her country.
Her career highlights include a strong performance at the 2022 South American Swimming Championships, where she was a finalist in four individual events: 50m backstroke (eighth place), 50m butterfly (sixth place), 100m butterfly (fourth place), and 200m butterfly (fourth place). These achievements underscored her potential and positioned her as a leading swimmer in the region.
Paraguayan Swimmer Luana Alonso (Image: Reuters)
In 2023, Alonso reached a new personal best, breaking the one-minute barrier in the 100m butterfly with a time of 59.88 seconds during a competition in Westmont, California, USA. This accomplishment further solidified her status as a top-tier swimmer.
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