La Raza Prevails in Nordic Sport
for Olympic Gold

Derek Parra wins First Olympic Gold Medal for Aztlan

by
Ernesto Cienfuegos
La Voz de Aztlan

Los Angeles, Alta California - 2/20/2002 - (ACN) Derek Parra, who was born in San Bernardino's heavily Mexican West Side, has made Olympic history. He has just trashed the world record for the 1,500-meter speedskate event at the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games, a feat that won him the first ever Gold Medal by a Mexican-American. He also became the first athlete residing in the U.S. that has won two medals in the year 2002 winter games. Parra also won a Silver Medal in 5,000 meter race nine days ago.

"Winning gold is fantastic," Parra said, "but to be the first Mexican-American, that's something beyond myself." Derek Parra is the first Mexican-American to win a Gold Medal in the Winter Olympics. Oscar de la Hoya won a Gold Medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain in boxing.

Derek Parra will have a chance to add to his medals when he skates in the 10,000-meter race on Friday. You can bet your bottom dollar that La Raza will be glued to the TV set to watch the event.

Parra who is 31 years of age was considered too old and too ethnic to hope to succeed in the winter olympic ice races, but he proved all the skeptics wrong by succeeding triumphantly in what is traditionally a Nordic sport.

"No one thought I would be where I am today," Parra said.

Parra is the second son in a household headed by a single father. He started skating during recreational visits to San Bernardino's Stardust Roller Rink. His grandparents are legal immigrants from Mexico.

The 1,500 world record had already been lowered in a super fast race by Jochem Uytdehaage of the Netherlands, when Parra broke it. Parra was faster than Uytdehaage at every checkpoint during his three-plus-lap race, clocking 1 minute, 43.95 seconds -- .62 seconds below Uytdehaage's time, and an incredible 1.25 below the record of 1:45.20 set a year ago.

When the results were declared final, Derek Parra was joined in the infield by his wife, Tiffany. "Every time I went around the track, I would see her face, and it was uplifting," Parra said of his wife. "For her to come to this race, and for the rest of my family to see it, that was great." he added.

La Voz de Aztlan salutes Derek Parra and hopes that more Mexican-Americans are provided the opportunity to compete in both the summer and winter Olympics. Mexicans are extraordinary athletes and competitors but certain social and economic parameters often create barriers that impede our youths from competing.