From Logan Square to Beijing thru Mexico

Here's the deal, as most of you know, the summer Olympic games will begin in Beijing this Friday (8/8). It's one of the biggest spectacles in not just sports, but in life. Millions of athletes have to try out, compete, and qualify just for the chance to participate in the games. To some, just being at the games is a dream come true, let alone winning a medal. Well there's one person I know who will be participating at the games, and the way he earn his chance is very unique. A couple of weeks ago, my brother, his girlfriend and I went to a new ice cream shop that opened up near my house called Heavenly. It's a nice and small cafe where they serve pretty good gelato and ice cream. While we were in there, we notice some newspaper clippings on the wall. That's when the women behind the counter told us that the story was about her son, who was going to the Olympics. His name, Lawrence "Larry" Langowski Mendoza. See, Larry is a 22 year old kid who was born of a Mexican mother, Maria Guadalupe Mendoza and a Polish father, Lawrence Langowski. He grew up like most kids playing many sports such as Basketball, Baseball and Football, until the 8th grade when he discovered Olympic style wrestling. He would continue his passion while attending and then graduating from Gordon Tech High School. He would then go on to Northwestern University where he was also a part of the wrestling team. But it would be his vacations to Mexico to visit family that would get him the chance of a lifetime. While in Mexico City, Larry requested permission to train with the Mexican Wrestling Federation while on vacation there. They not only let him train, but they invited him to participate in a match. After seeing what he could do, they invited him to more competitions. Eventually this is how he would earn a spot on the Mexican wrestling team for international competitions. See Larry was able to do this because he has double citizenship, Mexican and American.

“I could well compete representing the United States, but I began in Mexico and there are rules in international competitions that have to be respected”, Larry said in an interview with Hoy Newspaper. “I feel proud. Doubtlessly it's an honor to represent anyone of my nationalities. Nevertheless, to represent Mexico is something special, I represent my culture, my roots; since I was a boy, I've held Mexico in my heart, because I am Mexican.”

Larry has passed all the tests to compete in the Olympic games. He will be representing Mexico in free style wrestling, 120kg weight class. In his mother's home in Logan Square, she has a small table in her living room where she keeps all the medals her son has won. She has recently made an extra space on the table, just in case. So now knowing this story, I urge you to watch the games and support Larry in his pursuit of a medal. I leave you now with some words from Larry.

“To compete for a team or a school implies a great responsibility, but to represent a country is the biggest thing that could ever happen to me. And Mexico, I love.”