Most believe that success starts at home–which means that many of today's Olympian athletes owe quite a lot of gratitude to their parents! Between the training, the injuries, and all of the other highs and lows, bringing up a superstar athlete can't exactly be easy. That's why the promotional campaign "Raising an Olympian" is so amazing–it pays thanks to all those moms who helped their now-champion medalists get to where they are today.
Featuring some of our favorite Latino athletes, like Ryan Lochte,Diana Lopez, and several others, the videos are a touching tribute to the ever important relationship between a child and their mom. Check them out below to see moving family moments between a few super talented Olympians and their equally amazing mothers:
What do you think of these Olympians and their moms? Tell us in the comments below!
Ryan Lochte
Superstar swimmer Ryan Lochte and his mom, Ileana, pose happily together. "I steered him, but I didn't force him," she says of his path to Olympian stardom. But Lochte credits with much of his success, saying, "She was my first coach."
Diana Lopez
Ondina Lopez, who only speaks Spanish, is the mom of THREE Tae Kwon Do Olympians–Diana and her brother, Steven and Mark Lopez. Mami Lopez says she remembers Diana always wanting to do exactly what her siblings were doing. "That's the sport she wanted to do," she says, "so I treated her just like her brothers."
Gladys Tejada
Marcelina Pucuhuamanca, mom to Peruvian Olympic runner Glady Tejada, recalls how agile her daughter was as a child. "My mom, like all moms, would have food already prepared and waiting for me," Tejada says of returning home after the runs she used to take when she was younger.
Rudy Fernandez
Basketball Olympian Rudy Fernandez and his mother, Maite Farres, have spent a lot of time on the courts! Farres says they used to watch Fernandez's dad play basketball as a family and that Fernandez took his first steps on a basketball court.
Henry Cejudo
Nelly Rico, mom of Olympian wrestler Henry Cejudo, immigrated from Mexico City only to find an equally tough life here in the States. But working hard to keep her family afloat never prevented Rico from being there for her son or encouraging his dreams. "She would tell us we could become the President of the U.S.," Cejudo says.
