A local North Texas gymnast has officially earned a spot on the Colombian National Team, where she will travel to compete in the Paris Olympics, which begin in late July.
Luisa Blanco graduated from the University of Alabama and recently obtained dual citizenship to represent her parents’ home country of Colombia. She explained that she obtained dual citizenship “just to be able to compete at the Paris Olympics.”
“In my home and in my heart, I’ve always been Colombian and then when I would leave, I would be an American. Getting dual citizenship was a lengthy process, but you know, just like everything, there is a step-by-step process. I really get the best of both worlds,” she said, per NBC 5 DFW.
Blanco moved to Dallas from Los Angeles when she was just seven years old, opting to train at WOGA Frisco before eventually moving to Alabama to compete in the NCAA.
During her time at Alabama, Blanco earned numerous awards, including being named a 2024 First-Team Regular Season All-American, the 2021 SEC Gymnast of the Year, and winning the 2021 National Championship for the balance beam.
Blanco earned her spot on the Colombian National Team for her performance during the Pan American Games in October. According to The Crimson White, she finished with an all-around score of 50.099.
After officially qualifying for the team during the games, Blanco thanked those around her who helped to push and support her throughout the entire process.
“It takes a village to do something this amazing, and I just cannot thank my teammates, coaches, and support system enough for their endless support toward my goals and for being such an influential part of my journey,” she said, per The Crimson White.
Blanco said that she was proud to represent her parents’ country because she understands how important it is for so many people, adding that she hopes to inspire those with similar dreams for their future.
“The fact that I can be somebody who can represent the little girls in Colombia or just represent a whole nation in general is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m so honored to do it,” she said, per NBC DFW.
The next few months will involve a lot of training for Blanco as she looks to give her best effort during the games in which she will be competing in the artistic gymnastics category July 27-August 1 and then again August 3-5, per The Crimson White.