But first, immigration officials would have to agree to let the 22-year-old runner travel outside the United States and come back to the country he calls home. "It's a privilege and an honor to represent Guatemala because that's where I was born, (where I) have generations of family and that's where my roots started," he told CNN. Luis Grijalva, a student at Northern Arizona University, will represent Guatemala in Tokyo. Since graduating high school, a full-ride scholarship to Northern Arizona University has helped Grijalva continue running competitively while pursuing a career in communications. While he couldn't represent the US in the Olympics for several reasons, including his immigration status, Guatemala selected him for the country's delegation.

Source: CNN July 27, 2021 20:34 UTC