[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE HONORING MIDDLEWEIGHT BOXER SHAWN ESTRADA FROM EAST LOS 
        ANGELES AS HE COMPETES AT THE SUMMER OLYMPICS IN BEIJING

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                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
commend an extraordinary athlete from East Los Angeles in the 34th 
District who is currently in Beijing, China as a member of the United 
States Olympic Boxing Team competing in the Games of the XXIXth 
Olympiad.
   Weighing in at 165 pounds, Shawn Estrada is a middleweight boxer who 
became the ninth member of the U.S. Olympic boxing team after winning 
at the Americas Qualifier in Guatemala City, Guatemala in April.
   The 23-year-old trains at the Eddie Heredia Boxing Club in East Los 
Angeles under the skilled direction of three dedicated coaches, his 
father, Juan, and Rodrigo Mosquera and Hector Aguilar.
   Shawn says his fascination with boxing started when he was a young 
boy. This is not a surprise considering Shawn is carrying on a proud 
and distinguished family legacy. His father was a member of Mexico's 
Olympic team and his uncle, Adan Estrada, was a pro boxer. While his 
father refused to take Shawn to the gym with him when he was young, 
Shawn said that changed one day when he and his brother snuck into his 
dad's car one day and rode along with him anyway. He's been boxing ever 
since.
   Shawn says his goal to ``bring home the gold'' is motivated as much 
by his daughter, Alyssa, as it is for his country and hometown. He told 
USA Boxing--the national governing body of amateur, Olympic-style 
boxing--that in addition to being a boxing ``champion,'' he also 
strives to ``be a good role model'' for his daughter.
   In this regard, Shawn's tremendous drive to achieve and serve as a 
role model extends well beyond the boxing ring. He is furthering his 
education at East Los Angeles College and looks forward to one day 
helping to save lives as a firefighter.
   Madam Speaker, on behalf of the 34th Congressional District and the 
State of California, I ask my colleagues to please join me in 
congratulating Shawn on his remarkable achievements and extending to 
him and his teammates our best wishes for a victorious trip to the 
Beijing Olympics. I can assure you, regardless of how he performs, 
Shawn will always be a role model and a champion to his many devoted 
fans in East Los Angeles. He is among our hometown heroes, and we are 
very proud of him--in and out of the boxing ring.

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