M Softball legend Sierra Romero (and her sister) will try out for Team Mexico
Saw this on FloSoftball over the weekend while watching the games, and found it very interesting.
https://www.flosoftball.com/video/6311674-exclusive-why-sydney-sierra-romero-chose-team-mexico
The video is paywalled (and a good watch), but the gist is that Sierra and Sydney Romero (currently a Senior at Oklahoma) were approached by Team Mexico to try out. The interview doesn't get into anything about Team USA, but I think one can infer that one or both of them didn't see a path to playing in the Olympics that way.
I'm a big Sierra fan - as I think most of us here are - so happy she can follow her dreams. Nonetheless, I'm guessing the Mods might want to lock this.
That's pretty neat. I didn't realize that softball (and baseball) were coming back to the Olympics next year. I always thought it was kind of weird that they were removed to begin with.
Looks like US is already qualified, and there is one more Americas spot open. Anyone know how likely Mexico is to take that spot?
More likely with the Romero sisters
softball was dominated by the US so everyone took the ball away and went home. That is one of the theories
¡Viva El Tri!
What's controversial about this?
The fact that Team USA passed them over is horseshit, that's why.
We all know what happened the last time that occurred: Becky Hammon played for Russia and became an extraordinarily successful NBA coach.
Perhaps it's the cynic in me, but I fully expect some negative commentary about them playing for another country. Maybe I'm too jaded by current civil discourse.
Which is ironic, because the sport that many Americans love to make fun of has an incredible number of players choosing to suit up for a different country by choice.
If I can ask without igniting the controversy that OP is concerned about, how does this work? Can an Olympic team just invite anybody? I'm not an expert on the Romero family. Her wikipedia article says she is "of Mexican American descent", but she was born in California, went to school in California, college in Michigan. What kind of connection to Country A does a citizen of Country B need in order to play on Country A's olympic team?
I don't think there's an official IOC definition, rather it's up to the individual countries. I could probably play for Team Poland, if I had any athletic ability whatsoever.
The interview does mention their Mexican-American heritage, and the opportunity to help grow the sport there.
I believe the rule is if a parent or grandparent came over from the "old country" you are eligible to play for that country. For me it would have been Poland (my grandfather came over as a kid). For my kids it would be Ukraine (My wife came over 20 years ago).
Why would this get locked?
Edit: Woops, already been asked.
Guessing it’s a given they make the team
Good luck to Sierra. Fantastic hitter and softball player. College player of the year in 2016. Go Blue !
Good for Sierra and her younger sister, and I wish then well.
Also, glad to see that Softball (and, I presume, Baseball) is again included in the Olympics.
I feel ignorant. I did not know she was of Mexican American descent. I also did not know we had a women´s softball team down here. Yikes.
Good for her! Saw her in LAX yesterday and she graciously stopped her conversation to for a reciprocal Go Blue!
I would think Sierra would have a spot on the US team. She was one of the best college hitters of all time
I know Syd didn't want to come to UM because she didn't want to have to follow her sister but Hutch should have locked her up on campus at some point until she signed. The program would have won a lot more games these last few years. Hopefully their Olympic dream comes true.