Former Undocumented Immigrant Wins Olympic Silver Medal
For United States

Leo Manzano became the first American man to win an Olympic medal in the 1500 meters since 1968 Tuesday, and he posted the fastest time ever run by an American at the Olympics. While Manzano represents the United States now, he wasn’t born an American citizen. In fact, he was brought to the United States as a four-year-old by his undocumented Mexican parents, as Colorlines reported. His father obtained legal status under President Reagan’s 1986 amnesty law, but Manzano and other members of his family did not gain legal status for another decade. Manzano won five national championships as a runner at the University of Texas, and in 2004, he became a citizen, enabling him to represent the United States at the Beijing Games in 2008. ?I am honored and excited to represent both the United States and Mexico by earning this silver,? Manzano told the Associated Press. ?Standing on the podium has been a dream of mine and I share it proudly with my family, friends, coaches and all my supporters from Austin, Marble Falls, and Granite Shoals, Texas as well as Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico.?

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