[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E192-E193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DEREK PARRA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to revise and 
extend my remarks.
  I rise today to pay tribute to one of America's new Olympic heroes. 
Like all Americans, I watched all of our athletes competing in the 2002 
games with great pride. We love the Olympics. We love the international 
spirit, the thrill of competition, the joys of victory and stories of 
struggle. The athletes capture our imaginations and our hearts.
  I watched one athlete with particular pride, speed skater Derek 
Parra, winner of the silver medal in the 5,000-meter skate and the gold 
in the 1,500-meter skate.
  You see, Derek Parra is from my district. He went to school with my 
son, Joe Baca, Jr., and I attended church with Derek's father, Gilbert 
Parra, at St. Catherine's in Rialto, California.
  Derek Parra is an American hero. One of eight Olympians chosen by 
fellow teammates to carry the American flag into the opening 
ceremonies, Derek accepted the honor even though his first race was the 
next day. While most athletes spend the night before a race resting, 
Derek jeopardized his medal chances to carry Old Glory.
  On February 9, 2002, Derek's family and friends gathered on Saturday 
at Graziano's pizza restaurant in Colton to watch the San Bernardino 
native dazzle the world. Derek unexpectedly broke the world record in 
the 5,000-meter speed skating race with a time of 6 minutes and 17.98 
seconds, beating his own best time by 15 seconds. Derek won the silver 
medal when the Dutch skater edged out Derek's record-breaking time.
  Derek's record breaking performance and silver medal were a bit of a 
surprise even to the people who knew him best, because the 5,000-meter 
was not his best race. Friends and family eagerly awaited his best 
event, the 1,500-meter race on February 19th.
  Ten days later on February 19, 2002, fifty of Derek's closest 
relatives and friends jammed a tiny San Bernardino living room to watch 
Derek break another world record this time in the 1,500-meter speed 
skating race with a

[[Page E193]]

time of 1 minute and 43.95 seconds. This record held and Derek won 
Olympic gold.
  Derek's silver and gold medals surprised the world. At 5 feet 3\1/2\ 
inches, Derek is a small man in a tall man's sport. He is known by his 
Nordic competitors as ``the little man with the big strokes.''
  Derek grew up on the West Side of San Bernardino with his brother and 
single father. He attended Roosevelt elementary and Eisenhower high 
school. He first learned to skate at the stardust roller rink in 
Highland where be became an avid inline skater.
  As a Mexican-American youth growing up in southern California, Derek 
did not set foot on ice until he was 17 years old. Derek would be 26 
years old before he would switch from inline skating to ice skating in 
1996 in order to shoot for Olympic gold.
  Derek's road to the Olympics has not been easy. He and his wife 
Tiffany have struggled to make ends meet raising a baby girl, Mia 
Elizabeth, while Derek trained for the Olympics. Unlike most skaters 
who train fulltime, Derek works part-time at a Home Depot to help 
support his family. Derek has doggedly pursued his dream against all 
odds.
  When people said that he could not do it, he said that he could, and 
he did it. Derek proved that a determined kid from a working class 
family in Southern California could grow up to be a champion in a sport 
dominated by Northern Europeans.
  We do not have many Winter Olympians in San Bernardino. The beauty of 
the Olympic games is the opportunity they allow all of us to experience 
the glory and triumph through our athletes. We feel a connection with 
them. As the first Mexican-American to ever appear in the winter games 
let alone win a medal, Derek expanded the dreams of millions of 
Hispanic boys and girls throughout the U.S. and the world. In a world 
that all too often tells our children, ``no you can't,'' Derek Parra 
has shown them that ``si se puede,'' yes, they can compete! Through 
faith, determination and hard work, Derek broke down barriers to become 
a beacon of hope to children everywhere. Derek is truly a role model 
for others to follow.
  Derek Parra made history and opened the world of possibility of 
Hispanic Americans. Thank you Derek. San Bernardino is proud of you. 
Mexican Americans are proud of you. All Americans are proud of you. You 
are our hero. God Bless you.

                          ____________________