The American Dream: Henry Cejudo's Gold Medal Journey

For the first time since 1904, the U.S.A. has a gold medal winner in wrestling for the 55 kg weight class.  Henry Cejudo, of South Central Los Angeles, California, became the youngest wrestler in U.S. history to win the gold at the age of 21.  In Athens, he had won bronze at the age of 17.

Born to illegal immigrants from Mexico, his father in and out of the prison system and recently deceased, as NBC reports, the destiny of Cejudo must have seemed improbable to all but him and his family.  The environment that produced the Olympic champion is one hardly conducive to success.  An unstable home, neighborhoods riven wih drugs and gangs, but somehow Cejudo was able to transcend his situation to stand on the first-place podium before the world, with gold medal adorning his neck and an American flag waving to his back.

Henry Cejudo stands before all as an exemplar that sheer determination, hard work, and rigorous self-discipline can lead to success in the United States.  NBC, recognizing the potency of Cejudo's story, framed his post-victory interview in terms unmistakably characteristic of the liberal worldview:

Reporter Lindsay: "People have long predicted that Henry Cejudo would someday wear the gold, but very few thought that it would happen this soon.  Henry, though, never doubted that this was his year.  Why is that?"

Henry: "Well, uh, I busted my butt all year, you know, it was hard work, dedication, I had a good staff around me, and I'm here, I did it."

Lindsay: "Certainly it was a tough road here in the Olympics, down after the first period, after every bout except for this one.  You seem to wrestle better with your back against the wall.  What is it about the pressure that you seem to thrive on?"

Henry: "I like it.  I like it when I'm down.  I like being the underdog sometimes.  I like the crowd.  I like everything about, you know, being down.  You know, cause I always tend to come back."

Lindsay: "Your family, your parents, immigrated to America from Mexico years ago in order to give you and your siblings a chance at a better life.  And yet, your dream has not always played out in typical American dream fashion.  What does this mean to you and your family standing a few feet away to be wearing this flag and the gold medal around your neck?"

Henry: "I'm living the American dream right now."

Henry Cejudo demonstrates that dreaming big can lead to personal victory, but only if you work hard, lead a disciplined life and rely on one's self.