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1 month ago
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Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso has announced that she will be retiring after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games at the age of 20.
The swimmer made the announcement on her Instagram on Saturday morning, prior to taking part in the first heat of the 100m women's butterfly.
Alonso, a college student who attends school in the US, had revealed she had qualified for the games in Paris Games - with hundreds taking to social media to congratulate her on the achievement.
She finished sixth in the 100m butterfly - 0.24 seconds behind Georgia's Ana Nizharadze - and narrowly just missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals of the event.
The Paraguayan took to Instagram to confirm the announcement on Saturday morning, writing: 'It's official now! I'm retiring from swimming, thank you all so much for the support! Sorry Paraguay, I only have to thank you!'
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso (pictured) has announced that she will be retiring after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
The swimmer made the announcement on her Instagram on Saturday morning
Alonso previously raced in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were pushed back due to COVID
She wrote on Instagram: 'It's official now! I'm retiring from swimming, thank you all so much for the support!'
After the race, the 20-year-old teared up as she took part in an interview with Claro Sports. She she opened up further on her decision to retire stating that she was 'happy' to be ending her professional career at the Olympics.
'I am very emotional because it was my last race. I am retiring from swimming. I have been swimming for so long, 18 years, and I have so many feelings,' she told South American broadcaster Claro Sports after the event.
According to producer Walter Estigarribia on X, the swimmer was 'in tears' when she delivered the interview.
'Unfortunately, I made the decision to stop and I am happy that my last race will be at the Olympic Games.'
Earlier in the week, she had also posted a picture on her X (formerly Twitter) account with Rafael Nadal who was in action on Saturday alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the men's doubles, with the pair claiming victory against Argentina.
Alonso was congratulated by many on social media after the news, but clarified that she had made the decision a long time ago.
'People, my decision was made a long time ago! It wasn't because of the games! So nothing, I just have to thank everyone who always supported me,' she stated, addressing questions over why she had chosen to retire today.
She finished sixth in the 100m butterfly - 0.24 seconds behind Georgia's Ana Nizharadze - and narrowly just missed out on qualifying
The 20-year-old wrote on Instagram: 'I am very emotional because it was my last race. I am retiring from swimming'
Alonso (left) had also bumped into Rafael Nadal (right) during the games and shared a snap of the pair on X (formerly Twitter)
On missing out on qualifying, she added 'It didn't happen the way I wanted it to. I sincerely apologise to Paraguay.
She took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain that her decision to retire had been made months ago
Alonso, pictured during the opening ceremony, thanked fans for supporting her on social media
The swimmer was said to be 'in tears' when she delivered her interview to Claro Sports
Speaking on missing out on qualifying, she added to Claro Sports: 'It didn’t happen the way I wanted it to. I sincerely apologise to Paraguay, but I did what I could, despite several things that happened to me before. So, I’m happy and also to retire here with a full stadium and finally have the Olympic Games.'
Alonso had previously competed at the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo at 17 years old.
The 20-year-old also appeared at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary and at the South American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, that same year.
She attends the Southern Methodist University near Dallas Texas and also swims for the Dallas Mustangs.
English (US)