Hello everyone, we've got quite a dramatic turn of events from the Olympic Village in Paris. Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira has been banished from the Games after sneaking out to enjoy the Parisian nightlife. Vieira, along with her boyfriend and fellow swimmer Gabriel Santos, decided to hit the town without the necessary authorization, leading to swift disciplinary action.
The incident unfolded after Brazil's disappointing performance in the 4x100m freestyle relay. On July 26, the 22-year-old Vieira left the Village to meet up with Santos, who had also faced elimination in the heats of the men's 4x100 freestyle.
Their unauthorized outing didn't go unnoticed, and when the Brazilian Olympic Committee confronted Vieira about her actions, things took a heated turn.
Reports from Brazilian media indicate that Vieira reacted with what has been described as "disrespectful and aggressively challenging" behavior towards the Committee. This outburst led to her being promptly sent back home on the next available flight. The sport's governing body in Brazil did not mince words, calling out her reaction and emphasizing the importance of discipline and respect.
Santos, on the other hand, while also disciplined, chose a different approach by apologizing for the breach of rules.
The Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports (CBDA) issued a statement detailing the consequences for both athletes. Santos received a warning, but Vieira's conduct resulted in her removal from the delegation and immediate return to Brazil.
Gustavo Otsuka, the leader of Brazil's swim team, expressed his frustration to Reuters, stating, "We’re not here playing or taking a vacation.
We’re here working for Brazil, for the 200 million taxpayers who are working for us. We can’t play around here. She took a completely inappropriate position to make her point, her dismay, about the formation of the relay."
The couple, part of the Esporte Clube Pinheiros, are well-known figures in Brazilian swimming. Vieira, with over 26,000 followers on Instagram, regularly shares glimpses of her life and relationship with Santos. She made her Olympic debut in Tokyo, while Santos is a seasoned Olympian, having competed since the 2016 Rio Games.