"The son of undocumented Mexican immigrants who had to work two jobs to keep food on the table, Cejudo gave the U.S. its first Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling in 16 years Tuesday with a stunning win over Japan's Tomohiro Matsunaga in the 55-kilogram (121 pounds) final (Baxter 2008)"
"This is what I always wanted. The frustration was let out. The hard work and everything. I set my goal, I trained hard. I had a good staff around me. I just put the pieces together and I really believed in myself." And moving from the personal to the social, Cejudo added,
"This is cool. Coming out of a Mexican American background, it feels good to represent the U.S.," said Cejudo, who was born in Los Angeles. "Not too many Mexicans get the chance to do that."
"Cejudo's parents divorced when he was 4 and he saw his father, Jorge, only one more time before he died in Mexico City. But his mother, Nelly Rico, raised a family of six children on her own, bouncing from low-paying jobs in California to New Mexico and Arizona, where the family sometimes slept four to a bed."
"A large group of family and friends -- including sister Gloria, brother Alonzo and brother Angel, his training partner in Beijing -- were in the stands for the match. And they made so much noise they were nearly ejected at one point."
"Missing, however, was Cejudo's mother, the person he has repeatedly said was most responsible for his success."
"We always moved forward. We always moved forward. My mom always taught us to suck it up and whatever you want to do, you can do," Cejudo said. "And that's what I did."
"There were conflicting stories as to why his mother remained in Colorado. According to one explanation she had passport problems. Cejudo said she stayed home to take care of her grandchildren." Others say it was because of nervousness.
Repeating some negative stereotypes his coach Terry Brands said, "He has done an unbelievable job coming from the environment that he came from. Could be in prison. Could be a drug runner. Could be this, could be that. He's done an unbelievable job of not being a victim."
"He is the American dream. Gold medals are the American dream."
"And Cejudo had one around his neck Tuesday. But he was also wearing an American flag. And he wouldn't let on which he liked better."
"I don't want to let it go," he finally said, tugging on the flag. "I might sleep with this."
Talk about successful assimilation...
"This is what I always wanted. The frustration was let out. The hard work and everything. I set my goal, I trained hard. I had a good staff around me. I just put the pieces together and I really believed in myself." And moving from the personal to the social, Cejudo added,
"This is cool. Coming out of a Mexican American background, it feels good to represent the U.S.," said Cejudo, who was born in Los Angeles. "Not too many Mexicans get the chance to do that."
"Cejudo's parents divorced when he was 4 and he saw his father, Jorge, only one more time before he died in Mexico City. But his mother, Nelly Rico, raised a family of six children on her own, bouncing from low-paying jobs in California to New Mexico and Arizona, where the family sometimes slept four to a bed."
"A large group of family and friends -- including sister Gloria, brother Alonzo and brother Angel, his training partner in Beijing -- were in the stands for the match. And they made so much noise they were nearly ejected at one point."
"Missing, however, was Cejudo's mother, the person he has repeatedly said was most responsible for his success."
"We always moved forward. We always moved forward. My mom always taught us to suck it up and whatever you want to do, you can do," Cejudo said. "And that's what I did."
"There were conflicting stories as to why his mother remained in Colorado. According to one explanation she had passport problems. Cejudo said she stayed home to take care of her grandchildren." Others say it was because of nervousness.
Repeating some negative stereotypes his coach Terry Brands said, "He has done an unbelievable job coming from the environment that he came from. Could be in prison. Could be a drug runner. Could be this, could be that. He's done an unbelievable job of not being a victim."
"He is the American dream. Gold medals are the American dream."
"And Cejudo had one around his neck Tuesday. But he was also wearing an American flag. And he wouldn't let on which he liked better."
"I don't want to let it go," he finally said, tugging on the flag. "I might sleep with this."
Talk about successful assimilation...
Baxter Kevin, "Henry Cejudo captures gold and a piece of the American dream." Los Angeles Times. August 20, 2008. Full article at:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-olywrestling20-2008aug20%2C0%2C4592238.story
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-olywrestling20-2008aug20%2C0%2C4592238.story
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