Before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, María Laborde, a talented Cuban judoka, decided to escape from her country. At 24 years old, she sought to fulfill her dream of competing on a global stage, but the restrictions of the Cuban sports system and difficult living conditions led her to a crucial decision. In 2014, taking advantage of a tournament in Mexico, he crossed to Texas and contacted a coach in USA to begin a new stage in your career.
However, His path to American citizenship was not easy.. Coach Johnny Prado explained to her that she could not represent the United States immediately at the Olympic Games in Brazil, since she needed to be an American citizen. Instead of getting discouraged, Laborde decided to start from scratch, fight for his dream and begin the process of naturalization.
In 2022, finally, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted him citizenship. Just one year later, in 2023, she made history by becoming the first athlete from the United States to win a medal at the World Masters since 2016. Although at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games she failed to advance beyond the second round, her representation of the United States was highlighted by Uscis, which publicly congratulated her.
Its history between Cuba and the USA
Laborde, born in Guantánamo, Cuba, in 1990, He grew up in one of the most impoverished regions of the country. In describing conditions in Cuba, Laborde mentioned the lack of food and medicineproblems that even elite athletes face. His decision to emigrate was not only motivated by the opportunity to compete for another country, but also by the hope of helping his family have a better life.
After escaping Cuba, he settled in Kenosha, Wisconsinwhere he began teaching mixed martial arts, enjoying the tranquility of the place. Although the Cuban government banned him from returning for eight years, Laborde plans to visit his family now that that sanction has been lifted.
Laborde is one of the 44 immigrants who represented the United States at the Paris Olympics 2024. According to Uscis, immigrants have played a crucial role in America’s sporting achievements since the first modern Olympics. For the United States government, María Laborde’s story is a “example of struggle, perseverance and how dreams can be fulfilled in a new land“.
X | @USCIS