Boxing
Carlos Balderas
Few can say they fulfilled their lifelong dream by age 19. Since taking up the sport at the age of seven, Carlos Balderas – who is trained by his father and uncle – envisioned representing the US as an Olympian, a spot he earned in November 2015 after a superb showing at last year’s World Series of Boxing and being named the event’s Outstanding Boxer. This lightweight hailing from Santa Maria, California is motivated by the humble and impoverished beginnings from which his family came (he visited Mexico for the first time earlier this year). Balderas genuinely fights for his family’s honor and is determined to reward the sacrifice of his parents and grandparents by bringing them and the nation lightweight gold.