Henry Cejudo Silent About London Olympics in 2012
Henry Cejudo jokes with Cristina Rubio of Palmdale. Rubio holds the phone to let her son, Richard, 17, talk to Cejudo.
To see more photos of the book signing, visit the photo gallery.
Henry Cejudo, the only wrestler on the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team to win a gold medal in Beijing last year, remains undecided about whether he will join the team in London come 2012.
According to Cejudo, promoters from mixed martial arts events continue to court him about getting into the chain-link octagon.
Cejudo signed his book entitled “American Victory” at the Preferred Outlets in Tulare last Saturday. He spoke to about 30 youngsters on the hard work and commitment it takes to be successful in the sport.
Cejudo's autobiography.
Olympic trainer Eric Albarracin was also on hand. It was Albarracin who tossed the American flag that Cejudo picked up after winning the gold medal match in Beijing. The image was captured by photographers and published worldwide.
In the book, Cejudo talks about his harsh upbringing: His mother, Nelly, escaped the clutches of an abusive husband and father, all with six children in tow. In a tough neighborhood, Cejudo remembers older kids forcing him to participate in fight clubs.
The family moved from Los Angeles to Phoenix. They finally settled in Colorado where Henry was chosen by USA Wrestling to train at the Olympic Training Center.
Buy the book: ‘American Victory: Wrestling, Dreams and a Journey Toward Home’ (Penguin Books, $24.95).
Cejudo talks to young wrestlers in Tulare on Jan. 30.
Enticing offer: USA Wrestling announced it will award gold medalists at the London Games with $100,000. Silver medalists can earn $50,000, while $25,000 will be given to bronze winners. Can this keep the wrestling team together?
Beijing's Olympic gold.
Top performers in the mixed martial arts events can earn as much as $125,000.
