Meet a Mexican Girl Whose Family Went Into Serious Debt so She Could Be an Athlete Champion in France

San Juanita Vargas, from Nuevo León, Mexico, excels in the discus, javelin, and shot put sports. Her exceptional performances invited her to participate in the prestigious 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Week in France. However, the burden of funding her travel expenses fell upon her family.

San Juanita Vargas surpassed all expectations on European soil, securing an impressive haul of three medals in the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Week in France. She earned two gold medals and one silver.

Her standout achievement was breaking a new world record in the javelin throw with a distance of 16 meters and 66 centimeters (approximately 54.5 feet), securing her second gold.

Upon returning to Mexico, San Juanita confronted the harsh reality that her family had taken a loan with a fixed term to fund her trip to France. Determined to honor their commitment, the family has mobilized efforts to gather funds and repay the debt.

San Juanita’s mother, Laura Garza, highlighted that her daughter receives a scholarship. However, as she emphasized during an interview, it was insufficient to cover the expenses of such a significant journey.

Laura Garza employed fundraising methods, such as raffles, lotteries, food sales, and other events, to generate funds for her daughter’s flight tickets. The registration fee for the event amounted to approximately 40,000 pesos (around 2,300 dollars), a sum that couldn’t be covered entirely upfront.

Fortunately, the state authorities supported a round-trip flight from Monterrey to Mexico City. The remaining expenses were covered through generous donations from friends and supporters. She said, “They gave us the opportunity to pay (registration) in several payments. We asked for an extension, they gave it to us, but now we have to continue working to be able to pay.”

But supporting their own dreams isn’t the only burden some athletes have to pay. Minor injuries, exhaustion, and physical changes are also on their list of difficulties. Choosing to be a professional athlete needs to be accompanied by true passion and resilience.