Paraguayan swimmer breaks down in tears after announcing her retirement after competing in Paris 2024 [Video]

The official activity of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games began this Saturday and already had one of its most emotional moments with the Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso as the protagonist.

After finishing sixth in Heat 1 of the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 1:03:09 that did not allow her to qualify for the semifinals of the specialty, the 20-year-old athlete made a tearful announcement that surprised.

“The truth is that it didn’t go the way I wanted, unfortunately, but I’m very emotional because it was my last race and I’m retiring from swimming,” she told Claro Sports cameras after appearing at the Paris La Défense Arena.

The athlete from Asunción, who had also participated in Tokyo 2020 where she achieved a time of 1:00.37 in the same discipline, explained the motivations behind her decision: “I am going to go to study in the United States, I am going to continue my career in political science and why not be Minister of Sports one day, because as an athlete I know what athletes suffer and I want to help them promote sport. Fight for your dreams, no matter what happens, always remain firm in your beliefs. Go Paraguay.”

Visibly emotional, she said: “I have been swimming for so long, it was 18 years. I have so many feelings, but unfortunately I made the decision to stop. I am happy that my last race is here at the Olympic Games. Maybe it didn’t go as I wanted, I apologize to Paraguay, from the bottom of my heart. But I did what I could despite several things that happened to me before. So I am happy, and also to retire here with a full stadium and finally have an Olympic Games.”

The talented 20-year-old athlete is one of the 28 athletes (6 women and 22 men) representing Paraguay in Paris 2024, in a delegation that included rower Alejandra Alonso and golfer Fabrizio Zanotti as standard-bearers.

On her official Instagram account, with more than 274 thousand followers, the swimmer also announced her decision: “It’s official! I’m retiring from swimming, thank you all so much for the support! Sorry Paraguay, I just have to thank you!” On her X profile, at the same time, she clarified: “People, I made my decision a long time ago! It wasn’t because of the games! So nothing, I just have to thank everyone who always supported me.”

The best time in the women’s 100-meter butterfly in the qualifying rounds was for China’s Yufei Zhang with a time of 56.50, which allowed her to beat Japan’s Mizuki Hirai (56.71) and the Americans Torri Huske (56.72) and Gretchen Walsh (56.75). Alonso was ranked 29th best ahead of Nicaraguan Maria Victoria Schutzmeier (1:03.18) and Hayley Hoy (1:03.36). The medal final for this discipline will be held on Sunday, July 28 at 3:40 p.m. (Argentine time).

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