‘Helpless’: Olympian speaks after ‘sneaking out’ with boyfriend
A Brazilian athlete was sent packing after being caught by officials over a late-night act before her swimming event.
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A Brazilian athlete who was sent home from the Olympics after sneaking out of the athlete’s village to spend a night with her boyfriend says she has filed a complaint of harassment against the team and engaged lawyers over the issue.
Swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira posted a video to TikTok after being sent packing from the Games following a late-night stroll through Paris with boyfriend and fellow Olympian swimmer Gabriel Santos.
The pair were caught out after posting about the night on social media and were disciplined by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC).
Santos apologised and received a warning. However, Vierira argued the decision and was booted from the Games.
In a video posted to social media, Vieira told her followers she would “prove everything” in due course.
“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 and that’s what matters,” she said.
“I just ask for some time. A little patience okay?”
She also said she was unable to speak to anyone about the decision by the BOC and was sent to the airport “in shorts”.
The 22-year-old said she was recording the video in Portugal and was flying to Recife before Sao Paulo.
“I’m helpless I didn’t have access to anything,” she said.
“They announced to me that I was out for bad behaviour. Thank God I will prove everything that I did not have bad behaviour.
“’I have already filed a complaint of harassment and nothing has been resolved, harassment within the team. I will speak to my lawyers.”
The couple’s Parisian stroll came the night before the pair competed in the relay races, with both teams crashing out in the heats.
Vieira’s team finished in 12th, while Santos’ team came in 10th.
In a statement, the COB said Vieira was removed from the Games after becoming “disrespectful and aggressive” during the disciplinary process.
“The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) received this Saturday, 27 July, a statement from The Head of the Brazilian Swimming Team, Gustavo Otsuka, with the information that swimmers Ana Carolina Vieira and Gabriel Santos committed acts of indiscipline.
“With this, in common agreement with the members of the Technical Committee of the sport, with the Team Leader and with the Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports (CBDA), the COB decided to punish the two athletes for having left the Olympic Village without authorisation last Friday.
“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.”
Speaking to Reuters, Brazil’s swim team leader Gustavo Otsuka said Ms Vieira’s conduct was “completely inappropriate”.
“We’re not here playing or taking a vacation,” he said.
‘We’re here working for Brazil, for the 200 million taxpayers who are working for us. We can’t play around here.”
The pair are seen as the golden couple of Brazilian swimming and have clocked up a huge social media following with their joint posts.
Instagram snaps range from training sessions in the pool, sightseeing in Uruguay and relaxed selfies with a fluffy dog.
Vieira has 25,000 Instagram followers and Santos has 15,000.
Originally published as ‘Helpless’: Olympian speaks after ‘sneaking out’ with boyfriend
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