News of the 20-year-old swimmer’s ban emerged shortly after she announced her retirement from the sport. On Instagram, where she has 491,000 followers, she wrote, “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!”
Explaining her choice, she said, “I am very emotional because it was my last race. I am retiring from swimming. I have been swimming for 18 years and have so many emotions."
"Unfortunately, I decided to stop, but I’m glad my final race is at the Olympic Games.” Alonso, who also competed at the Tokyo Olympics, noted that she had made this decision "a long time ago."'
She explained, “, my decision was made a long time ago! It wasn’t because of the Games! So, I just have to thank everyone who has always supported me.”
Having finished last in her final race she apologised to her supporters in Paraguay saying “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.”
Born and raised in England, Sam is now living in Barcelona. He is a digital sports writer and weekend editor for Inside The Games.
Para Panam Games Santiago 2023 Photos
When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.
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Pierre de Coubertin once said cricket has "practically no appeal for those who are not British". While he expressed doubts the Olympic viability of cricket, lacrosse and baseball, Philip Barker wonders how the man who helped revive the modern Games would have reacted to new sports at Los Angeles 2028.
