Latinos to Watch During Tokyo Summer Olympics
Updated: Aug. 9, 2021 (Originally posted: May 5, 2021)
*Note: The article below is about the Summer Olympics. Learn about the Latino athletes at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games instead.
More than dozen Latinos qualified for the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. The 2020 games have ended, but here’s a look at the Latino athletes who competed in a wide range of sports from boxing and baseball to sailing and fencing.
Courtesy of Team USA
Anita Alvarez
Mexican-American Anita Alvarez will head back to the Olympics to compete in the women’s artistic swimming duet competition.
Courtesy of Eddy Alvarez
Eddy Alvarez
Eddy Alvarez, made history as the first baseball player to become a flag bearer at this year’s Tokyo Olympics. This year was also the first time two athletes were chosen from each country/delegation. Alvarez is now in his 2nd Olympics. He previously competed in the winter Olympics as a speed skater.
Courtesy of Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker
Afro-Latino Devin Booker, who plays for the Phoenix Suns, will wear the Team USA Basketball team jersey for the Tokyo Olympics. Booker is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent.
Courtesy of Triston Casas
Triston Casas
Triston Casas, 21, is the Red Sox’s top prospect. Casas who is of Cuban descent plays first base for Team USA baseball at the Tokyo Olympics.
Courtesy of Anjelica Delgado
Angelica Delgado
Angelica Delgado, 30, is ranked in the top 14 in the world for the Japanese sport of Judo. And she’s headed back to compete in her second Olympics. She is of Cuban descent and her father competed for the Cuban National team.
Rachel Garcia Instagram
Rachel Garcia
UCLA softball player Rachel Garcia will represent the U.S. at the Olympics as a pitcher and infielder.
Courtesy of Jack Lopez
Jack Lopez
Jack Lopez, who was born in Puerto Rico, will head to his first Olympics as an infielder for Team USA. He signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Jan. 16, following a two-year stint in Atlanta's farm system. This is Lopez’s first Olympics.
Courtesy of Catarina Macario
Catarina Macario
US National Women’s Soccer Team midfielder Catarina Macario headed to Tokyo to represent Team USA. Macario, who was born in Brazil, moved to the U.S. at 12 years old in order to continue her soccer career.
Courtesy of Nick Martinez
Nick Martinez
Cuban-American Nick Martinez is on Team USA’s baseball team as a pitcher. This will be his first Olympics. Martinez, who was born in Miami, played several seasons for the Texas Rangers and now plays abroad for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the Japanese League.
Courtesy of USA Archery
Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez
Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez, 18, will compete in her first Olympics in archery. She is Mexican-American. Muncino-Fernadez told her parents at age 7 that she wanted to be in the Olympics. She landed on archery and never looked back.
Courtesy of Justine Wong-Orantes
Justine Wong Orantes
Justine Wong Orantes, 25, who was named the 2019 Pan American Cup Best Libero will play for Team USA. She is Filipino/Mexican-American.
Courtesy of Pedro Pascual
Pedro Pascual
Pedro Pascual made his Olympic debut in 2016 in windsurfing and he’s headed back for another shot at a medal. He was born in Mexico but he is Spanish-American.
Courtesy of Yarisel Ramirez
Yarisel Ramirez
Yarisel Ramirez, 22, was born in Cuba. She’ll compete in the featherweight division in boxing. With Ramirez's addition, USA Boxing is currently the only team with a representative in all five women's divisions in Tokyo. This will be her first Olympics.
Courtesy of #bizziteam
Yeisser Ramirez
A former member of the Cuban national fencing team, Yeisser Ramirez is now a member of Team USA. Read about his journey from Cuba to the U.S.
Courtesy of Sarah Robles
Sarah Robles
Mexican-American Sarah Robles is going to her third Olympics. At 2016 Olympics, Robles won the first weightlifting medal for the U.S. in 16 years.
Alejandro Sancho Instagram
Alejandro Sancho
Miami-native and cubano Alejandro Sancho will represent Team USA in Greco-Roman wrestling. He is part of the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program.
Courtesy of Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Basketball legend Diana Taurasi is on a quest to get her fifth Olympic gold medal with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball team. Taurasi is of Argentinian descent. She currently plays on the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and was featured in “Space Jam: A New Legacy”.
Courtesy of Ariel Torres
Ariel Torres
Ariel Torres, 23 is the first Cuban-American to represent karate in the Olympics.
Courtesy of Richard Torrez, Jr.
Richard Torrez, Jr.
Mexican-American Richard Torrez, Jr. is a third-generation boxer from California who has made it on to Team USA. The southpaw competes as a super heavyweight.
While this is a list of Latinos at the Tokyo Olympics, you can view all athletes who’ve qualified for Tokyo Olympics on the Team USA website. View full schedule of Olympic events on NBC.
