Native Californian Is Proud to Represent Mexico in Games

Jaime Barragan is going to the Olympics.

Barragan, a Long Beach State senior, will run in the 100- and 200-meter races in Atlanta. Barragan plans to represent his country with pride and grace.

But he won’t be representing the United States. Instead, Barragan will participate in the games as a member of the team from Mexico.

“This has been a goal of mine and I’ve worked hard to get here,” Barragan said. “I really want to make my family proud of me.”

Barragan, a four-time Big West Conference champion, was born and reared in the Southland. His parents were born in Mexico, so Barragan has dual citizenship.

His situation is not uncommon. It allows athletes who might not qualify for the U.S. team to experience the Olympics.

“I think I would challenge for a spot [on the U.S. team], but I’m not thinking about that now,” Barragan said. “Right now, my goal is to represent Mexico as well as I can.”

Barragan, who majors in Spanish, holds the Long Beach and Mexican national records in the 100 and 200. He has been timed at 10.30 in the 100 and 20.72 in the 200.

Barragan, 21, has always trained in Southern California, having graduated from Long Beach Millikan High. He credits his U.S. coaches for his development.

“I’m not being cocky, but I wouldn’t get better if I trained [in Mexico],” he said. “I need to train in a place where I am going to get faster, where I’m going to improve. That’s here.

“It would be hard for me [in Mexico], because nobody is better than me. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything at all.

“Because of all the money in America, this is the ideal training situation for every athlete. That’s why foreign athletes dream about coming here.”

Andy Sythe, 49er track coach, says all athletes should be able to benefit from the best training available. No matter where.

“I understand why some people are upset,” Sythe said. “We’re essentially training foreign athletes with our coaches, to compete against us.

“But we shouldn’t be that selfish. Isn’t our country supposed to be a melting pot?”