美国国家公共电台 NPR In Competitive Sports, Puerto Ricans Gain A Sense Of Independence

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SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

This week, Puerto Ricans mark the centennial of Congress granting U.S. citizenship¹ to those born on the island. In the years since, many Puerto Ricans have had to navigate² a complicated dual³ identity. But one area in which they are distinctly Puerto Rican and on par⁴ with the United States is at the Olympics. NPR's Maria Penaloza spoke⁵ with Puerto Rican athletes about their decision to go for Team Puerto Rico or Team USA.

MARIA PENALOZA, BYLINE⁶: It's a breezy, sunny afternoon at Puerto Rico's Olympic Village in Salinas - about an hour south of San Juan. Young athletes jump into the Olympic pool one by one and start swimming laps. Kids from around the island try out for athletic⁷ scholarships that could lead to a spot in Puerto Rico's Olympic team.

PAOLA SANTIAGO: It's an honor to represent Puerto Rico, our country, in the sports.

PENALOZA: Meet 17-year-old Paola Santiago. Like most Puerto Ricans, she refers to the island as pais, the country, even though it's not. It's a U.S. territory. Paola says it never even occurred to her to try out for the U.S. national swim team.

SANTIAGO: I wouldn't feel that happy because I feel like I feel more comfortable being here and represent Puerto Rico. I don't live there. I don't do anything there.

PENALOZA: There meaing the mainland. Smiling comes easily to Paola, even as she gets ready for her second two-hour-long training session of the day. She is determined⁸ to make her island proud, just like tennis player Monica Puig did last summer in Rio.

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UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: (Chanting) Puerto Rico.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Speaking Spanish).

PENALOZA: Puig gave the island its first gold medal, and Puerto Ricans went into a collective explosion of pride when she won.

(CHEERING)

PENALOZA: Here, almost everyone feels passionate⁹ about sports and about the importance of Puerto Rico having its own Olympic Committee. Manuel Natal¹⁰ is a member of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives.

MANUEL NATAL: Puerto Ricans value the sovereignty that we have in terms of sport. It's something that it's part of our national identity.

FERNANDO DELGADO: (Speaking Spanish).

PENALOZA: Swim coach Fernando Delgado runs the stopwatch on the pool deck at the Olympic Village. Delgado has been coaching here for 31 years.

DELGADO: I can't explain you the emotion that we feel, the feelings about that moment.

PENALOZA: That moment is when he marches at Olympic ceremonies around the world. At a loss for words, he points to the goosebumps on his large, tanned arms as a way to explain his emotions. Delgado's overwhelming pride in Puerto Rico's athletic independence is shared by many on the island. He says this is the only arena¹¹ where we feel like an independent nation. Maria Penaloza, NPR News, Salinas, Puerto Rico.