Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira recently made headlines when she and her boyfriend, Gabriel Santos, were caught trying to sneak out of the Olympic Village in Paris. As a result, Vieira has been sent home by the Brazilian Olympic Committee. In a recent statement, the Committee mentioned that the swimmers left the village without their team’s knowledge.
While Santos received a warning, Vieira was dismissed from the delegation and had to return to Brazil immediately. However, Vieira has taken to her Instagram Stories to defend herself and voice her concerns. In a series of emotional clips, she claimed to have done nothing wrong and even filed a complaint of harassment with the Brazilian Olympic Committee, which she believes was ignored.
Vieira also expressed her frustration at not being able to gather her belongings before leaving the Olympic Village. She stated, “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.” She further mentioned that despite filing a complaint, nothing has been resolved, and she feels unsupported by her team.
According to UOL, the Brazilian Olympic Committee is now investigating Vieira’s harassment complaint. Gustavo Otsuka, Brazil’s swimming team leader, explained that her behavior was deemed unacceptable. He stated, “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.” Otsuka emphasized that it was her alleged aggressive manner that led to her dismissal from the Olympics.
Despite the challenges she is facing, Vieira remains hopeful. She promised to speak to her lawyers and share her side of the story, stating, “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. I hope to be able to defend Brazilian women’s swimming with great pride. I ask for patience, thank you.”
The incident involving Vieira has generated significant attention and has left many wondering about the consequences of breaking the rules at the Olympics. While the Brazilian Olympic Committee has taken swift action, it remains to be seen how the investigation into Vieira’s harassment complaint will unfold
