Q & A with U.S. boxer Luis Yanez

The U.S. Olympic boxing team arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to begin final training for the Summer Olympics. Among the boxers now practicing at Beijing Normal University is light flyweight Luis Yanez, who was reinstated to the Olympic team in mid-July after being kicked off earlier in the summer for missing more than two weeks of practice.

Yanez shared some of his thoughts during a Q&A conducted by a team representative. Here are some of her questions and his answers.

Q: How are you feeling now just nine days out from the Opening Ceremonies?

A: I feel good, I feel strong, I feel confident and I’m just ready.

Q: What is the most challenging part of being here in Beijing?

A: Staying focused, because we have so many distractions around you, such as media. You have a lot of people coming up to you. I keep pushing myself to stay focused.

Q: What was the one thing you wanted to make sure you brought to China?

A: One thing I wanted to bring to China with me was my family, and they are here in my heart, but also my motivation and my confidence. I take my rosary everywhere with me, and it was blessed by my grandmother and I take that everywhere I go.

Q: Are any family and friends coming to China to support you?

A: Not at all.

Q: What does being an Olympian mean to you?

A: It means that I can represent my country, myself and my family, and I know that I am someone out there representing something positive.

Q: What can people expect to see from you when you finally take the ring at the Workers Indoor Arena?

A: For sure, confidence. They are going to see I am a new and different Luis coming in. They are going to think that Luis Yanez that competes on the 13th is a whole new Luis.

Q: What is your favorite thing to eat here?

A: Pasta

Photo: Boxer Luis Yanez during the 2007 Panamerican Games competition in Rio de Janeiro.  Credit: Jorge Saenz / Associated Press