Brazilian swimmer Vieira snuck out of the Olympic Village without permission. She was joined by her partner, fellow Brazilian swimmer Gabriel Santos
An Olympic athlete has been banished from the Games after sneaking out of the Village to sample the Parisian nightlife.
Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira hit the town without authorisation with her boyfriend, fellow swimmer Gabriel Santos, after her country crashed out of the 4X100m freestyle relay.
The 22-year-old snuck out of the Village to meet up with Santos on July 26 without permission. According to Brazilian media, when pulled up on the indiscretion by the Brazilian Olympic Committee she abused them and was then swiftly sent on a flight back home.
The sport’s governing body in Brazil described her reaction as “disrespectful and aggressively challenge(ing)”.
Her partner Santos, who was eliminated in the heats of the men’s 4×100 freestyle, was also disciplined, though he reportedly apologised for the rule break.
“The Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports (CBDA), the COB decided to punish the two athletes for having left the Olympic Village without authorization last Friday,” the statement from the body began.
“In addition to this fact, the athlete Ana Carolina, in a disrespectful and aggressive manner, contested the technical decision taken by the Brazilian Swimming Team committee.
“Thus, athlete Gabriel Santos was punished with a warning and athlete Ana Carolina Vieira was punished with removal from the delegation. She will return to Brazil immediately.”
Brazil’s swim team leader Gustavo Otsuka told Reuters: “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 are part of the Esporte Clube Pinheiros, one of the Brazilian athletics clubs with the most athletes at the Paris Olympics.
Vieira routinely shares images of the pair on her Instagram page which boasts a following in excess of 26,000. She made her Olympic debut at the last Games in Tokyo.
Santos, meanwhile, was competing in his third Games, having made his Olympic debut at his home Games in 2016.
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