Angelica Delgado, Anita Alvarez, and Kennedy Blades all have the same dream: to become gold medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. All three athletes are aware that they will be reaching this feat as one of the few Latina Team USA Olympians.

Originally from Miami, Florida, Angelica Delgado, who is Cuban American, has been in this position before. She represented Team USA as a judoka during the last two Summer Olympics. In 2016, she placed 17th and in 2020, she placed 9th. She hopes her trajectory leads her to the podium this year.

“It was always my lifelong goal to be an Olympian,” Delgado, 33, told Latina Media Co during a recent interview about being part of Team USA. “In 2016, I was young and everything was very new. It seemed like something so much bigger than myself. Going into Paris, I feel like I’m the veteran.”

Little girls who are predominantly Hispanic come up to me at my home dojo all the time… It feels amazing to be able to inspire the next generation. They’ll grow up knowing they can do it, too.

Angelica Delgado

Delgado also knows she’s doing something important for representation on the world’s biggest stage. As a Latina, she hopes her return to the Olympics fuels a fire in young athletes of color who want to follow the same path as her.

“Little girls who are predominantly Hispanic come up to me at my home dojo all the time,” she said. “It feels amazing to be able to inspire the next generation. They’ll grow up knowing they can do it, too. I’m very honored to be a small part in that and be a role model for them.”

Like Delgado, Anita Alvarez will be making her third trip to the Summer Olympics this year. She will be competing on the USA artistic swimming team. In 2016 and 2020, Alvarez, who has Mexican roots on her father’s side, participated as a duet and finished in 9th place and 13th place, respectively.

“This third time around, I’m going in with a different perspective – a little bit older and a little bit wiser,” Alvarez, 27, told Latina Media Co. “I really want to enjoy the moment and be present and take it all in because it’s such a special and unique opportunity.”

Alvarez understands that as a Latina, she is a rarity in her sport. This year, she is joined by fellow swimmer Daniella Ramirez, who has Venezuelan roots.

“Latinas in the US are definitely underrepresented in an aquatic sport like artistic swimming,” Alvarez said. “So, to be able to represent the Latina community and for young girls to be able to look up to me and see that they can do it as well is super special.”

Now, when I go to tournaments and these little girls come up to me and say, “We’re the same color,” I think that’s awesome. I’m really excited to leave it on the mat and show everyone that we’re here.

Kennedy Blades

For Kennedy Blades, making it on the wrestling roster for Team USA is something she has been working toward since she was introduced to the sport at the age of seven. Blades, who is Afro-Latina (Black, Mexican, and Honduran in her case), will make her first trip to the Olympics this year. She said she is trying not to “psych” herself out and instead think of it as just another competition.

“I don’t want to think of it as a huge event, but it’s hard to do that because when you step back, you realize how far you’ve come,” Blades, 20, told Latina Media Co. “The emotions are starting to kick in. I’m not really nervous, but more excited because it’s my first run. I’m going in with a mindset of being happy and grateful, and I’m putting everything in God’s hands.”

Being an Afro-Latina athlete is something Blades has embraced her entire life. She describes the Latino culture as “amazing” and adds that she is going to “love representing America” to the world.

“I didn’t really see a lot of Latina girls when I grew up watching the Olympics, which is one of the biggest events in history,” she said. “Now, when I go to tournaments and these little girls come up to me and say, ‘We’re the same color,’ I think that’s awesome. I’m really excited to leave it on the mat and show everyone that we’re here.”

The 2024 Summer Olympics take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024, and here’s when you can watch these three Latina Team USA Olympians: Delgado and the judo competitors in her weight class (114 lbs.) begin their preliminary round on July 28. Alvarez and Team USA start their artistic swimming competition on August 5. Blades and the freestyle wrestlers in her weight class (167 lbs.) begin their tournament on August 10. For the full 2024 Summer Olympics schedule, visit Olympics.com.