Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso announced that she will retire after competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the age of 20.
The swimmer made the announcement on her Instagram on Saturday morning, before taking part in the first heat of the women’s 100-meter butterfly.
Alonso, a college student attending school in the US, had revealed she had qualified for the games at the Paris Games, and hundreds of people took to social media to congratulate her on the achievement.
She finished sixth in the 100-meter butterfly, 0.24 seconds behind Georgia’s Ana Nizharadze, and was on the verge of qualifying for the semi-finals of the event.
The Paraguayan took to Instagram to confirm the announcement on Saturday morning, writing: “It’s official! I’m retiring from swimming, thank you all so much for the support! Sorry Paraguay, I just have to thank you!”
Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso (pictured) announced she will retire after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics
The swimmer made the announcement on her Instagram on Saturday morning.
Alonso had already competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed due to COVID
She wrote on Instagram: “It’s official! I’m retiring from swimming. Thank you all so much for the support!”
After the race, the 20-year-old cried while participating in an interview with Claro Sports. She opened up more about her decision to retire and said she was “happy” to end her professional career at the Olympic Games.
“I’m very excited because it was my last race. I’m retiring from swimming. I’ve been swimming for so long, 18 years, and I have so many feelings,” she told the South American broadcaster. Clear Sports after the event.
According to the producer Walter Estigarribia in X, The swimmer was ‘crying’ when she gave 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 photo on her X account (formerly Twitter) with Rafael Nadal, who was in action on Saturday alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles, and the pair took 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.
“My people, my decision was made a long time ago. It wasn’t because of the matches. So nothing, I just have to thank everyone who always supported me,” he said, answering questions about why he had chosen to retire today.
She finished sixth in the 100-meter butterfly, 0.24 seconds behind Georgia’s Ana Nizharadze, and was on the verge of qualifying.
The 20-year-old wrote on Instagram: “I am very excited because it was my last race. I am retiring from swimming.”
Alonso (left) had also bumped into Rafael Nadal (right) during matches and shared a photo of the couple on X (formerly Twitter)
On not qualifying, he added: “It didn’t happen the way I wanted. I sincerely apologize to Paraguay.”
She took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain that she had made her decision to retire months ago.
Alonso, pictured during the opening ceremony, thanked fans for supporting her on social media.
The swimmer is said to be ‘in tears’ when giving her interview to Claro Sports
On not qualifying, he added to Claro Sports: “It didn’t happen the way I wanted. I sincerely apologize 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 age 17.
The 20-year-old also appeared at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary and the South American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, that same year.
He attends Southern Methodist University near Dallas, Texas, and also swims for the Dallas Mustangs.