Undocumented Immigrant of the Day: Leo Manzano (Mexico)

Last summer, Mexican-born American runner Leo Manzano won a silver medal in the men’s 1,500-meter final, running the fastest time ever by a U.S. athlete at the Olympic Games. Manzano entered the U.S. at age 4 without papers. He did not gain legal residency until 10 years later.

Born in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato Mexico, Manzano moved with family to Texas at age four. He was raised in Granite Shoals, Texas, and excelled at Marble Falls High School, where he won a total of nine Texas 4A state championships in track and cross country.

In the 1500 m Final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Manzano unleashed his signature kick to claim the silver medal. Manzano is the first American to medal in the 1500 m since Jim Ryun won silver in Mexico City 1968 breaking a 44 year drought for the U.S. men’s middle distance running.

KJ