Swimmer Luana Alonso Retired but May Return to Sports

Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso became one of the most discussed figures of the Paris Olympic Games. Despite her disappointing performance, the 20-year-old athlete attracted the attention of not only the sports community but also global media audiences.

Alonso ended her participation on the very first day of the Olympics. In the 100-meter butterfly qualification, she finished in sixth place, trailing the leader by more than four seconds and failing to advance to the semifinals. Immediately after her race, Luana announced her retirement from sports, thanking her fans and her home country of Paraguay for their support.

However, interest in the athlete only grew after the Olympics. Luana began actively posting photos and videos from Paris, including moments of training and leisure, which sparked mixed reactions in her home country.

Nevertheless, the swimmer's popularity on social media skyrocketed: her Instagram following increased from 300,000 to 1.1 million.

Many international outlets, including Germany's "Bild," ironically dubbed Alonso the "main tourist of the Olympics," highlighting her active participation in Parisian cultural life. At the same time, the athlete hinted that her decision to retire might not be final.

In her latest posts, Luana showcased her training sessions and tagged her sports partner, sparking rumors about a potential return to competition. The growing support from fans and her increasing popularity open up opportunities for commercial projects and sponsorship contracts.

Luana Maria Alonso Mendes was born on March 19, 2004. The Paraguayan swimmer, a native of Asunción, Paraguay, also represented her country at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she competed in the 100-meter butterfly event. During her career, she set several national records in butterfly swimming for Paraguay.