Thursday, August 28, 2008

Congratulations to Gold Medal Winner Henry Cejudo

Writer Montini called it, "The feel good story of the Beijing Olympics." Henry Cejudo won the gold medal for the 55-kilogram (121-pound) division in wrestling. Cejudo, a Mexican-American is a citizen but his mother is not. After taking the gold, the former Maryvale High School athlete told the Republic's Norm Frauenheim, "This is cool, coming out of a Mexican-American background. It just feels so good. Not many Americans get to do something like this. I feel like I'm living the American dream."

What will happen to his mother? Who knows? Thanks to the media, Cejudo's mother is outed for having entered the country illegal before Henry was born. His father, who wasn't much in the picture during much of Henry's life died some time back in Mexico.

The Arizona Republic reports, "'Cejudo said he would have never won Olympic gold without some tough love from his brother, Angel, a four-time state champion at Maryvale. When I was growing up, I got a couple of knuckle sandwiches from him,' Cejudo said."

For all Americans, I can say that he represented us well. To see him run around the ring with the American flag with a jubilant smile on his face shows that he is a real American.

Why not allow his mother become a citizen?

Other Articles: Cejudo's medal golden for Maryvale; Maryvale basks in Cejudo's golden glow; AZ notes: Gold win nets Cejudo $65K; A Valley wrestler, an American dream, a Beijing gold.

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