Joplin GlobeTOKYO
Danell Leyva stood atop the medals podium, unable to contain his pride when he heard the opening notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
His mother had fled Cuba with him and his older sister 18 years ago, simply hoping to find a better life. Now here he was, gold medal around his neck, USA emblazoned on his chest.
“I’ll always be proud to have been born in Cuba. I’ll forever be Cuban,” Leyva said before the world gymnastics championships, where he won the parallel bars title on Oct. 16 to give the U.S. men their first gold medal since 2003. “But I’m also equally proud to be able to represent the U.S. the way I do because this is the best country in the world.
“To be able to say I represent the U.S., it’s a great feeling. It’s one of the best feelings.”
Leyva, who turns 20 on Oct. 30, has emerged as one of the world’s best gymnasts, someone who could win multiple medals at next summer’s London Olympics. He won his first U.S. title in August, and had the third-highest individual score in qualifying at worlds; falls on vault and high bar took him out of contention in the all-around final.
The U.S. men won the bronze at worlds, their first medal in eight years, and Leyva would like nothing more than to help the Americans upgrade to a gold in London — a small repayment for everything his adopted country has given him and his family.
“If we were still in Cuba, I’d be some skinny kid, probably just be out in the street, not doing anything, probably getting in a whole mess of trouble,” Leyva said. “(My parents) brought me up so well. Being able to come here and give me a new opportunity, not just for gymnastics, but for life, it’s literally a brand-new life in this country for us.”
Leyva’s mother, Maria Gonzalez, and stepfather, Yin Alvarez, were members of Cuba’s national gymnastics team when they were teenagers, afforded privileges ordinary Cubans were not. When their competitive careers were over, however, they realized just how hard life could be in the impoverished country where freedom is little more than a word.
“It was real life,” Alvarez said. “I said to my mom, ‘Where’s the food?’ She said welcome to real life.”
Chafing at the oppression and lack of opportunities, Alvarez decided to defect. He stole away while performing with a gymnastics group in Mexico City, then swam the Rio Grande to get to the United States. He made it to Miami in 1992, and began working as a gymnastics coach.
His mother had fled Cuba with him and his older sister 18 years ago, simply hoping to find a better life. Now here he was, gold medal around his neck, USA emblazoned on his chest.
“I’ll always be proud to have been born in Cuba. I’ll forever be Cuban,” Leyva said before the world gymnastics championships, where he won the parallel bars title on Oct. 16 to give the U.S. men their first gold medal since 2003. “But I’m also equally proud to be able to represent the U.S. the way I do because this is the best country in the world.
“To be able to say I represent the U.S., it’s a great feeling. It’s one of the best feelings.”
Leyva, who turns 20 on Oct. 30, has emerged as one of the world’s best gymnasts, someone who could win multiple medals at next summer’s London Olympics. He won his first U.S. title in August, and had the third-highest individual score in qualifying at worlds; falls on vault and high bar took him out of contention in the all-around final.
The U.S. men won the bronze at worlds, their first medal in eight years, and Leyva would like nothing more than to help the Americans upgrade to a gold in London — a small repayment for everything his adopted country has given him and his family.
“If we were still in Cuba, I’d be some skinny kid, probably just be out in the street, not doing anything, probably getting in a whole mess of trouble,” Leyva said. “(My parents) brought me up so well. Being able to come here and give me a new opportunity, not just for gymnastics, but for life, it’s literally a brand-new life in this country for us.”
Leyva’s mother, Maria Gonzalez, and stepfather, Yin Alvarez, were members of Cuba’s national gymnastics team when they were teenagers, afforded privileges ordinary Cubans were not. When their competitive careers were over, however, they realized just how hard life could be in the impoverished country where freedom is little more than a word.
“It was real life,” Alvarez said. “I said to my mom, ‘Where’s the food?’ She said welcome to real life.”
Chafing at the oppression and lack of opportunities, Alvarez decided to defect. He stole away while performing with a gymnastics group in Mexico City, then swam the Rio Grande to get to the United States. He made it to Miami in 1992, and began working as a gymnastics coach.
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