His Abuelito Worked In The Fields And He Wants To Pay Him Back With A Gold Medal

*Carlos Balderas will be in the ring tomorrow morning in the quarterfinal round at 10:30. He’ll face Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez, a bronze medalist in 2012. A win would ensure him, and his team, a medal. VL

By Omar Villegas, MiTú

[Carlos Balderas], The 19-year-old from Santa Maria, Calif., wants to bring back a gold medal from Rio. Not just for the U.S., but to pay back his family for all the sacrifices they’ve made.

In the ’50s, Balderas’ grandfather, David, left his wife and eight children to look for work in the United States. He eventually saved enough money to bring his family — including Carlos’ father, Zenon — to the U.S.

David Balderas, who is now 88 years old, worked in California’s strawberry fields for decades to earn a living for his family.

Carlos’ mother left his family when he and his brother were toddlers, so his grandparents helped raise him. But he was a handful.

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