Around 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on Saturday, in the shadow of Londons iconic Buckingham Palace, a very excited Richmond mom will be bursting at the seams with pride.
Surrounded by an equally emotional family that is flying into London from as far away as Japan, City of Richmond employee Erika Goroztieta will be leading the cheers and fighting back the tears as she gazes onto her son, Inaki Gomez.
Representing Canada in the 20 kilometre race-walking final, UBC grad Gomez, 24, lives with his parents on No. 3 Road and was often seen pounding the Minoru Oval track as part of a weekly 120-kilometre regime in preparation for the Olympics.
And as she took one last look at the pin board in her Minoru Seniors Centre workplace which was overlapping with well wishes for Gomez from Richmondites Goroztieta tried her best to describe the emotions coursing through her body and mind.
Its a mixture of feelings, its a very unique feeling really, said the seniors centre program coordinator. Its so exciting and were so happy for him; to see your son accomplish his dream is amazing.
Hes wanted to be an Olympian all his life and now hes doing it. He thought it would be in swimming, but now its in race-walking. I think hes going to embrace the moment.
Goroztieta didnt want to jinx anything by predicting where her son might finish in the race.
But given that Gomez finished 14th in the World Championships in Russia, fourth in the Commonwealth Games and first in the Sydney Classic this year, his mom has more reason than most to be optimistic.
Anything could happen and hes prepared very well for this in his mind and his heart, she said. Its such an honour for him to represent Canada. He wants to finish in the top 15 in the world.
Indeed, if it wasnt for being involved in a car accident in Grade 12, Gomez who moved to Vancouver from Mexico City with his family when he was 11 was aiming for the top as a swimmer.
Hes been race-walking for six years, but he was a swimmer originally with the Canadian Dolphins Swim Club, Goroztieta said.
But he sustained a serious neck injury (in the accident), which stopped his swimming career. He was in the butterfly and he simply couldnt keep that up with the injury.
When he recovered, however, he was invited to take part in the race-walking team for his Vancouver school in the provincials.
His coach said he was a natural, Goroztieta added.
He decided to embrace the challenge and, after many years of hard training and sweating, he is at the Olympics.
Other Richmond Olympians still competing or still to get going are:
- Andre Ho, 20, in the table tennis team competition on Friday, Aug. 3.
- Arjan Bhullar is set to make his Olympic debut in the wrestling arena on Aug. 11.
