HENRY CEJUDO Springs, Colorado

enry Cejudo, the 21-year-old lated the pro wrestlers they saw on TV prodigy who had competed and the Mexican boxers they revered, in only one world-level senior and they entered a youth pro- tournament before , gram in Phoenix. Angel was the first ace, H 31st in the 2007 world cham- winning four high school state titles, and pionships, made history by winning the Henry did the same winning two in Olympic gold medal at 55 kilograms. and the last two in Colorado His gold medal assured the United Springs at Coronado High School. States of winning a His story produced the 125th Olympic gold for the ninth consecutive Olympics wrestling medal for the at which it has competed (1980 boycott). and its 50th gold. Only swimming and Two years after U.S. coach track and field, with far more events, called him the future of wrestling, the have produced more American golds future became the present in a dazzling On August 19, 2004, Henry Cejudo four-match flurry, making Cejudo the moved from Arizona to Colorado youngest American to win an Olympic Springs, to attend Coronado High wrestling gold medal. School. He was a high school junior who Cejudo, crying the moment the match Henry Cejudo left his family and home to live at the ended and wrapping himself in an Colorado Springs, CO U.S. Olympic Training Center and pur- American flag, Tomohiro Matsunaga of sue his dream of winning an Olympic 2-2 on tiebreaker and 3-0 in the best- gold medal. of-three match. The tears that fell moments unbeaten NCAA champion. Exactly four years later, on August 19, after he defeated Matsunaga gave way to a His parents were undocumented 2008, Cejudo won the 55 kg/121 lbs. smile as wide as a wrestling mat, as he Mexicans who met in . His weight class in freestyle wrestling at the realized that he had done it. And, too, how mother had six kids, four with his father, in Beijing, . he had done it. Jorge, who was in and out of prison until “The same day I got to this school was "I always knew I was going to be here," dying of heart problems at age 44 in August 19. That is the day I won the Cejudo said, his blackened right eye a 2007. Henry never saw him after age 4. Olympics. It was exactly four years. That contrast to the gold medal he clutched The family was miserably poor, some- makes this an even bigger story,” said ever-so-tight. "I watched the Olympics times moving from apartment to apart- Cejudo. "His work ethic and determina- as a kid and I knew I'd be here. It was ment under the cover of night because tion was every coach's dream, which is tough. But it's all worth it." they lacked rent money. His mom why he was a four-time state champion, Cejudo bypassed a college career to try worked several jobs at a time. two in Arizona and two in Colorado. I to become an Olympian. American Sometimes they stayed with friends, think Henry is probably one of the great- wrestlers are supposed to go to college, sometimes with relatives, sleeping six or est high school wrestlers in the history of then enter the Olympic program when seven to a room in bad neighborhoods, the sport." they're experienced and ready; Cejudo drug deals going on down the street. “It’s definitely a life-changing experi- did so at age 17 and is the only wrestler Always, though, someone was there to ence, “ Henry said. “But at the same to win a national senior championship offer a helping hand. time, I love to talk to kids and deliver a before leaving high school. "I'm proud of my Mexican heritage," message that you can be all you can be. But winning an Olympics so soon, Cejudo said. "But I'm an American. It's It’s about hard work, dedication and with so little world-level experience, the best country in the world. They call it coming through.” almost never happens. Cael Sanderson the land of opportunity, and it is. Maybe was the only U.S. freestyle gold medalist if some other kid watches this, he can do in Athens, but he had a long and storied the same." amateur career and was a four-time Henry and older brother Angel emu-

Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine - May 30, 2009 page 7