Santa Maria Boxer Nearing Spot On U.S. Olympic Team
The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil begins on August 5, 2016. Over 10,000 athletes will compete in nearly 30 sports over the 2-week long Olympiad. One athlete who hopes to be there competing for the United States is Carlos Balderas. The 18-year boxing star recently moved a step closer to earning a trip to Brazil by winning the WSB/World Championships Team Trial in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“I’m really close,” said Balderas. “I’ve just got to keep working hard and stay humble because a lot of people at this spot think it’s okay to slack a little bit and that’s when they make the biggest mistake because there’s thousands of people that want to be in the position that I’m in, so I’m fortunate.”
The position Balderas earned is a spot in the U.S. Olympic Trials. It’s a long and difficult 6-month process that will take the Santa Maria High School senior to 7 different countries beginning in January.
“I’ve just got seven fights to go and if I win five out of the seven fights, my spot is locked for the Olympics,” said Balderas.
The Santa Maria native has been a rising star in American boxing since he was a youth fighter.
“He’s been training since he was 7 years old and he has accomplished so many titles, he has won so many titles, pretty much everything,” said his father Zenon, who along with his brother David, have coached Carlos since he started.
Under the watchful eye of his father and uncle, Balderas has been building towards this goal for more than 10 years.
“You have to sacrifice so much,” said Balderas. “You have to sacrifice sleep, you have to sacrifice eating, your family, being away sometimes for months, and you can’t complain, you have to do as your told, you have to keep working.”
All of Balderas’ hard work paid off in Chattanooga when he captured the lightweight (132 lbs.) championship beating National Gold Gloves champion Maliek Montgomery in the final. Before the championship bout, Balderas earlier defeated reigning USA Boxing national champion Genaro Gamez. For his effort, Balderas was named the tournament’s outstanding boxer.
With the tournament complete, Balderas is now turning his attention towards the long Olympic qualification process.
“Words can’t even describe it because I’m just a couple of fights away from my dream becoming reality.”
Balderas, who fights out of the family’s gym located in an industrial park just off Betteravia Road in Santa Maria, balances his world class international amateur boxing career with his schoolwork at Santa Maria High School.
“I have to wake up at about 6 in the morning to go run, to go workout and then I have to get ready for school, and after school, I have to come back to the gym, but the school is very supportive, they’ve helped me out, which I’m thankful for.”
Carlos is also thankful for his support system, which includes his family and friends. He notes his family has made considerable financial sacrifices to help fund his Olympic dream. His father Zenon thinks it will soon pay off.
“I really believe in Carlos that he’s going to be the first one from Santa Maria in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.”
Should he qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team, Carlos would join a small group of Central Coast athletes who have worn the Red, White and Blue at an Olympic Games. One more color he’s hoping to wear is gold.
