Former Wrestler Alejo Makes Olympic Plea

Contributed by the Office of Luis Alejo:

Senate Concurrent Resolution 26, by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) and Assemblymember Luis Alejo (whose district includes Gilroy), passed unanimously on the Assembly Floor. 

SCR 26 urges the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board to continue to include wrestling as a core sport of the Olympic Games. 

“Wrestling is an important sport for our youth because it crosses all socio-economic boundaries,” said Alejo. “Wrestlers in California are from very diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. We cannot allow the IOC to strip our youth of their dreams to one day represent their country on an international stage at the Olympic Games.” 

In the past, wrestling has been a stronghold for the United States Olympic team —with 124 medals awarded to the United States in the modern Olympic era. Moreover, USA Wrestling reports that California has the most high school wrestlers of any state in the nation, with 27,596 high school boys wrestling and 2,008 girls wrestling in the 2011-12 year. 

“The sport’s inclusion in the [Olympic] Games not only provides an opportunity to showcase our state and country’s wrestling talent on the international stage, it also provides inspiration for many at-risk youth,” said Correa. “Through participation in character building activities like wrestling, [at-risk youth] go on to further their education and become pillars in their communities.” 

In February of this year, the IOC Executive Board recommended that wrestling be removed as a core sport in the 2020 Olympic Games. The Executive Board is set to vote on the issue in St. Petersburg, Russia on May 28-30. The Board will make a final decision on the issue in September when they meet in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

“I believe that life lessons conveyed through wrestling programs are priceless,” said Alejo. “I speak from experience when I say that these programs teach young people to approach challenges in life with confidence, discipline, courage, and leadership.”

Alejo is a former team captain and MVP of the Watsonville High School wrestling team. He went on to wrestle at the collegiate level for Gavilan Community College and placed in the state championships. SCR 26 will now be sent to the International Olympic Committee for consideration.