美国国家公共电台 NPR In Competitive Sports, Puerto Ricans Gain A Sense Of Independence

 

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

This week, Puerto Ricans mark the centennial of Congress granting U.S. citizenship¹ to those born on the island. In the years since, many Puerto Ricans have had to navigate² a complicated dual³ identity. But one area in which they are distinctly Puerto Rican and on par⁴ with the United States is at the Olympics. NPR's Maria Penaloza spoke⁵ with Puerto Rican athletes about their decision to go for Team Puerto Rico or Team USA.

MARIA PENALOZA, BYLINE⁶: It's a breezy, sunny afternoon at Puerto Rico's Olympic Village in Salinas - about an hour south of San Juan. Young athletes jump into the Olympic pool one by one and start swimming laps. Kids from around the island try out for athletic⁷ scholarships that could lead to a spot in Puerto Rico's Olympic team.

PAOLA SANTIAGO: It's an honor to represent Puerto Rico, our country, in the sports.

PENALOZA: Meet 17-year-old Paola Santiago. Like most Puerto Ricans, she refers to the island as pais, the country, even though it's not. It's a U.S. territory. Paola says it never even occurred to her to try out for the U.S. national swim team.

SANTIAGO: I wouldn't feel that happy because I feel like I feel more comfortable being here and represent Puerto Rico. I don't live there. I don't do anything there.

PENALOZA: There meaing the mainland. Smiling comes easily to Paola, even as she gets ready for her second two-hour-long training session of the day. She is determined⁸ to make her island proud, just like tennis player Monica Puig did last summer in Rio.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: (Chanting) Puerto Rico.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Speaking Spanish).

PENALOZA: Puig gave the island its first gold medal, and Puerto Ricans went into a collective explosion of pride when she won.

(CHEERING)

PENALOZA: Here, almost everyone feels passionate⁹ about sports and about the importance of Puerto Rico having its own Olympic Committee. Manuel Natal¹⁰ is a member of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives.

MANUEL NATAL: Puerto Ricans value the sovereignty that we have in terms of sport. It's something that it's part of our national identity.

FERNANDO DELGADO: (Speaking Spanish).

PENALOZA: Swim coach Fernando Delgado runs the stopwatch on the pool deck at the Olympic Village. Delgado has been coaching here for 31 years.

DELGADO: I can't explain you the emotion that we feel, the feelings about that moment.

PENALOZA: That moment is when he marches at Olympic ceremonies around the world. At a loss for words, he points to the goosebumps on his large, tanned arms as a way to explain his emotions. Delgado's overwhelming pride in Puerto Rico's athletic independence is shared by many on the island. He says this is the only arena¹¹ where we feel like an independent nation. Maria Penaloza, NPR News, Salinas, Puerto Rico.

1 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

2 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

3 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

4 par   

n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的

参考例句：

• Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
• I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

7 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

10 natal   

adj.出生的，先天的

参考例句：

• Many music-lovers make pilgrimages to Mozart's natal place.很多爱好音乐的人去访问莫扎特的出生地。
• Since natal day,characters possess the visual elements such as dots and strokes.文字从诞生开始便具有了点画这样的视觉元素。

11 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。