Many athletes dream of being Olympic athletes. It doesn’t matter what sport they compete in; going to the Olympics could easily change someone’s life and status in their respective sport.
That being said, it may be surprising that some athletes knowingly violate Olympic rules, essentially ruining their shot at a life-changing amount of recognition from many organizations around the globe.
One of these athletes was a Brazilian swimmer. Ana Carolina Vieira was banished from the Olympics after it was found that she had sneaked out of the Olympic Village to enjoy a night out with her boyfriend and fellow swimmer Gabriel Santos.
It was discovered after Vieira crashed out of the 4x100m race, in which Brazil finished seventh in the women’s second heat. After being reprimanded, she reportedly abused the Olympic Committee and was sent back home.
Ana Carolina Vieira Claims Olympic Committee Has Ignored Her
Not only did the 22-year-old attempt to sneak out, but Santos was also caught trying to leave the village. Santos himself wasn’t barred from the Olympics but was still reprimanded by the committee.
With all that said, one would expect the 22-year-old swimmer to have some comments about the situation, whether it be apologizing or standing her ground. Vieira has indeed just broken her silence via three Instagram stories.
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In them, she made the following statement:
“I left there and left my materials, I didn’t know what to do. My things are there [in the Olympic Village], I went to the airport in shorts. I had to open my suitcase at the airport. I’m in Portugal, I’m going to Recife and then to São Paulo. I am helpless, I have had no access to anything, I have not been able to speak to anyone. They told me to contact the COB channels. But how am I going to get in touch?
“I have already filed a complaint of harassment and nothing has been resolved, harassment within the team…I will speak to my lawyers. I promise to tell everything. I am sad, nervous, but with a peace of mind because I know who I am, I know what my character and my nature are.”
The swimmer has reportedly filed a complaint against the Olympic Committee for harassment after they sent her home, clearly believing that she had done nothing wrong. The complaint has yet to be resolved between the two parties.
Vieira said she left all her belongings at the Olympic Village and went to the airport in shorts. She also stated that she is “helpless” and “has no access to anything” and has been ignored by the committee.
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