Reversal of fortune for U.S. wrestler Cejudo
Colorado Springs resident captures gold at 121 pounds
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 19, 2008 at 6:27 a.m.
121-pound division
First round: Beat Radoslav Velikov, Bulgaria, 0-1, 3-2, 4-3
Quarterfinals: Beat Besarion Gochashvili, Georgia, 1-3, 3-2, 3-0
Semifinals: Beat Namig Sevdimov, Azerbaijan, 3-5, 3-2, 4-3
Gold medal: Beat Tomohiro Matsunaga, Japan, 2-2, 3-0.
Before the biggest competition of his life, Henry Cejudo stepped into a sauna dressed in a plastic suit and sweated away 10 pounds in 1 1/2 hours to make weight.
Actually, it was no sweat for Cejudo.
Considering how far he has come, that was easy. Cejudo, the son of undocumented Mexican immigrants, grew up dirt poor in Los Angeles, Las Cruces, N.M., and outside Phoenix.
Cejudo's father, Jorge, whom Cejudo hadn't seen since he was 4, died last year in Mexico at 44 of heart trouble after a hard life that included long stints in jail.
But there was Cejudo on Tuesday, wrapping himself in an American flag and crying tears of joy. After winning the Olympic gold medal in 121-pound freestyle wrestling, he ran around the ring with the flag, thinking about how far he has come.
"I'm living the American dream right now," said Cejudo, 21, who has been wrestling in the Olympic training program in Colorado Springs since 2003, a time that has included his 2006 graduation from Coronado High School, then remaining in the program instead of wrestling in college. "The United States is the best country in the world, and I'm glad to represent it."
Cejudo, despite never having won a match in a world senior-level tournament before the Olympics, beat Japan's Tomohiro Matsunaga in the final, winning the first period in a tiebreaker after it was 2-2 and taking the second period 3-0. It was the least suspenseful of the day's four matches for Cejudo.
But Cejudo, the youngest wrestling gold medalist in U.S. history and a two-time high school state champion, hasn't been known for taking the easy route.
"It was all worth it. I tell everybody I would never play the victim role," Cejudo said of his difficult upbringing. "We always move forward. My mom always taught us to suck it up, and whatever you want to do, you can do."
Cejudo's mother, Nelly Rico, whom Cejudo calls "my mom and my dad," raised seven children practically by herself, instilling discipline and religion. While she tried to make ends meet, sometimes four of her kids slept in the same bed.
Rico now lives in Colorado Springs. She remained behind during the Olympics to help care for the 4-year-old daughter of Cejudo's brother, Angel.
Angel, 22, who moved to Colorado Springs from Arizona along with Henry, also is a wrestler in the Olympic program. He came to Beijing to serve as his brother's training partner while two other siblings, Alonzo and Gloria, cheered from the stands.
"I wish she was here so I could be with her," Cejudo said of his mother. "I wish I could give her the medal right now."
Well, maybe there would be a slight delay. Cejudo said he planned to sleep with that gold medal first.
After the medal was secured, Cejudo was picked up by U.S. freestyle team coach Kevin Jackson, a 1984 gold medalist. Then he ran around the ring with the American flag.
Tears of joy flowed. Cejudo sank to his knees.
"He's America's guy," said Cejudo's coach, Terry Brands. "He's a testament to the fighting spirit of America. . . . He's done an unbelievable job in his circumstances, coming from the environment that he came from: Little Mexico, Maryvale, Ariz. Could be in prison. Could be a drug runner."
Instead, he's a gold medalist. This despite the fact Cejudo, who long has been regarded as an up-and-coming talent, couldn't even get out of the first round of last year's world championships.
"All of you guys who doubted him, look at him now," Angel said.
Well, Cejudo was tipping the scales at a bit more than when he started the competition. He had a gold medal weighing him down.
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August 19, 2008
7:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
sue27 writes:
Way to go! Great story about growing up poor but having a dream to work for.
Lets not turn this story into a rant about illegals, okay everyone?
August 19, 2008
8:09 a.m.
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violinga1 writes:
Wow, congratulations to Henry!!!!
August 19, 2008
8:41 a.m.
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rpmcmurphy writes:
What a man! Against all odds to gain success and glory. I really like his statement at the end of the article. "Proud of his Mexican heritage, but an American". If that isn't true patriotism, nothing is.
August 19, 2008
8:44 a.m.
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rmnreader writes:
Good for you for making so much out of such a rough life!
August 19, 2008
9 a.m.
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Squatch writes:
Congratulations Henry!
August 19, 2008
9:15 a.m.
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Barron writes:
That's a beautiful story of hope. Congratulations to him and his family.
August 19, 2008
9:17 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Congrats and thanks for all the hard work you put in to bring back the gold.
August 19, 2008
9:39 a.m.
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platoro79 writes:
I saw this young man wrestle at the Colorado High School state tournament the two years he won it. He wasn't just in a league of his own, he was in his own universe! Way to go Henry!
August 19, 2008
10:27 a.m.
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danirobi writes:
Thats awesome!!! USA USA USA!!!
August 19, 2008
11 a.m.
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I_Slay_The_Dragon writes:
Hen-ry.......Hen-ry.......HEN-RY!
August 19, 2008
11:11 a.m.
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HollyGoLightly writes:
Congrats Henry! A Coloradoan wins a gold. Way to go!
August 19, 2008
11:44 a.m.
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buffsblg writes:
Great job Henry. Most of us can only dream about ever putting in the time and effort to reach the podium.
Sadly, we all knew that some guy who has never accomplished anything this hard or been the best in his neighborhood, let alone best in the world, would get on here and criticize and minmize. Nice job butchm showing that some small polluted soul will express their hatred in every circumstance.
August 19, 2008
noon
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anderson writes:
I was beginning to despair that I would ever see any wrestling in during the World Gymnastics, er, I mean, the Olympics, when there was Henry Cejudo about 11:00 last night, in his first and second matches. That is so awesome! He is only 21.
August 19, 2008
12:08 p.m.
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I_Slay_The_Dragon writes:
Reality (and Butch) rears its ugly head. Henry, you're in, Bro:
"The Latino Club: Americas' FORGOTTEN Heroes".
August 19, 2008
12:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
I_Slay_The_Dragon writes:
Butch, first, the concept of an "Anchor Baby" is not only
repulsive, it's a fallacy....can you say "Spanish Conquistadors"?
KNEW you could, son.
Secondly, it's (again) an incorrect term....can you say "GOLD
Medalist Baby"? Knew you could, sport.
August 19, 2008
12:46 p.m.
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redwhiteandBLUE writes:
butchm@11:27
LOL! Maybe a little blunt..but you are right!
Can they say "jackpot" baby ?
August 19, 2008
1:02 p.m.
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junglegymco writes:
Good call sue - the whiners of the likes of buttm and redwhiteandIBLEW seem to think everything is all about them and their causes. It's not about them - did they win a gold medal? Ah - NO.
Congrats Henry! Don't let the cry-babies spoil your well-earned praise!
August 19, 2008
1:26 p.m.
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JB writes:
Way to represent Henry! Awesome job and a GREAT story. You'll catch some hell from the less intellegent bunch, but just let it roll off your back. If you need to, take some solice in the fact that you could readily kick most of their a**es!!
Great job! Hopefully you grab a gold in 2012 too!
August 19, 2008
1:45 p.m.
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buffsblg writes:
butch, unless you know his parents, your "facts" are just racist assumptions that you use to put down people better than you. Whatever this kids parents did, he is a U.S. citizen by operation of the U.S. Constitution. That is the simple fact.
And whatever his parents may have done, why do you anti-mexican folks need to comment on everything except that you have no other life. Your obsession is unhealthy. You have an opinion, fine, but why do you need to come on here and slam that kid except to use nasty name calling to compensate for your minimal personal achievements? Just because you rubbed together both your brain cells to create what you think passes for a thought, why does it need to be posted here?
August 19, 2008
3:25 p.m.
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Buckwheat writes:
Nice job kid, downright outstanding!!
August 19, 2008
4:31 p.m.
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arvada_mark writes:
“The United States is the best country in the world, and I’m glad to represent it.” Henry Cejudo
I think it's time to discuss his future. London in 2012, Chicago (hopefully) in 2016, & then possibly another gold in 2020. He'll only be 33 years old. That's what he's looking at, being a 4-time Olympic gold medalist. It would make him the greatest American Wrestler of all time. Heck, 3 golds would probably do that. Asics or Adiddas needs to employ this guy before somebody else does.
And, yes, after over 30 years of following high school wrestling in this state, Henry is by far the best I've ever seen at that level. There are no comparisons. The kid skipped college because the competition isn't enough for him. Even Dan Gable had to master the craft in college before winning gold.
August 19, 2008
4:36 p.m.
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arvada_mark writes:
One more thing...Great job, Cejudo! We knew it was only a matter of time. A true, flag waving American, Henry Cejuto.
August 19, 2008
5:37 p.m.
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TheDenverB writes:
"God damned Mexicans. Send this loser illegal drain on REAL AMERICANS back home."
he isn't an illegal... and he's clearly a greater American than you could ever be.
August 20, 2008
2:45 p.m.
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I_Slay_The_Dragon writes:
TheDenverB, CORRECTION: God-BLESSED Mexicans....How many Gold-Medals
do you have? Son, watch you language...GOD sees EVERYTHING.
August 20, 2008
6:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
dmotomd writes:
For those like myself who have been following Cejudo, no big surprise. Terry Brands predicted a gold, and Cejudo had beaten Moreno (4th in the world) at the Pan American Games this year. He did not do well in the 07 World Championships because he was injured, so he was kind of discounted. His coaches knew what he was about. I read that he is interested in ultimate fighting, where he would be a terror. I hope he stays with freestyle for at least one more Olympics, maybe two, but I could see him making some money if he gets two golds. I saw all four of his matches (on TV), his balance and creativity are amazing. For someone as young as he is, it was impressive how he stayed composed and confident even after consistently losing the first period or giving up the first score.
August 21, 2008
6:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
TheDenverB writes:
dragon, i was quoting ramanboy...
now, with that in mind, go back and re-read my post.
(and i have one gold medal from lake placid in 1980, actually. not mine, but a family members).
that said, don't tell me to watch my language like i'm a child. And i certainly don't need you looking out for my eternal salvation or putting your beliefs on me..
I'm an adult just like you, and can chose my words on my own without some fear of a spaghetti monster striking me down for using it's name.