Recognizing Ariel Torres for His Impressive Showing At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ariel Torres, whose hard work and dedication led him to earn a bronze medal in the men's karate kata at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Born in Cuba, Ariel's family settled in Hialeah, Florida, when he was only four years old. As a young child, he turned to karate to manage his hyperactivity after being encouraged to do so by his doctor. Ariel's family has been his biggest support system throughout his career and his achievements would not be possible without their unwavering dedication. Like most looking to rebuild their lives, his family had very little when they arrived in the United States, but still encouraged Ariel to pursue his dreams. One instance of this was when Ariel, at age eleven, wanted to attend a tournament in North Carolina but his parents could not afford to send him. Instead of giving up, his parents and Ariel put on an exhibition, where he performed karate moves at an intersection to ask for donations from people driving by. Ariel and his family did this for weeks until they saved up enough money to attend the tournament, where he won both competitions that occurred.

Ariel's family continued to support his dreams and encouraged him throughout his career, shaping him into the dedicated young man that he is today. He is a four-time USA Karate SeniorTeam Member, a two-time USA Karate National Champion, and now, an Olympic bronze medalist. When Ariel learned that karate would be included in the 2020 Olympics, he envisioned himself competing at the highest level on that world stage. It was an honor to witness Ariel's performance in Tokyo and see him bring an impressive victory back to Hialeah.

Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to know that such a committed young man resides in South Florida. His life story and perseverance serve as an inspiration for all--that no dream is too big to achieve. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding individual.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source