Ana Carolina Vieira Sent Home After Violating Athlete Village Protocol
A Brazilian swimmer was expelled from the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday after violating a major rule. Ana Carolina Vieira, 22, was caught sneaking out of the athletes’ village to spend a night with her boyfriend and fellow teammate, Gabriel Santos. Vieira, who competed in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay with Brazil’s team on Saturday, July 27, left the village without permission on Friday night, July 26.
Why was Ana Carolina Vieira sent home?
Vieira finished 12th in the heats, while Santos was eliminated in the men’s 4×100 freestyle heats. On Sunday, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) announced its decision to send Vieira home after discovering via her social media posts that she snuck out with Santos, 28.
Gustavo Otsuka, the head of Brazil’s swimming team, informed the COB about their “inappropriate” behavior. Vieira also disputed a technical decision made by her country’s team lead. Though Santos also broke the rule, he was let off with a warning after apologizing.
Official statements
COB’s Response
“The athlete Ana Carolina, in a disrespectful and aggressive manner, contested a technical decision made by the Brazilian National Swimming Team committee. As a result, Gabriel Santos was given a warning and Ana Carolina Vieira was dismissed from the delegation. She will return to Brazil immediately,” the COB said, per Mirror.
Team Head’s Statement
Gustavo Otsuka issued a separate statement, saying, “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.”
“It was during this period that we decided to take this situation to the disciplinary committee, discussed it and took the appropriate action. We ended up finding out through the posts,” Otsuka added, per Reuters.
Ana Carolina Vieira’s breach of protocol and subsequent expulsion underscore the strict regulations athletes must adhere to during the Olympics. The COB’s swift action highlights the importance of discipline and respect for rules in the high-stakes environment of the Games.