University of Minnesota Athletics
Santana Looking to Fufill Olympic Dream
5/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Puerto Rico will host the Women's World Olympic Qualification Tournament, May 20-22, in San Juan. The tournament will decide which country claims the 12th and last berth up for grabs at this year's Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Also competing with host Puerto Rico is Algeria, Colombia and Kenya.
The winner will join seven countries that have already qualified for this year's Olympic tournament, including hosts Brazil, FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup winners China and runners-up Serbia, European Olympic Qualification Tournament winners Russia, NORCECA Olympic Qualification winners USA, South American Olympic Qualification Tournament winners Argentina, and African Olympic Qualification Tournament winners Cameroon. Four more teams will join the competition in Rio from the World Olympic Qualification Tournament and Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament scheduled to take place from May 14 to 22 in Japan.
Santana has a chance to help Puerto Rico qualify for it's first Olympic Games. When asking the Corozal native on what it would be like be a part of their nation's history, her first word was "surreal."
"It would be surreal, shocking almost," Santana said. "It would be amazing. There are so many people who have tried doing this and so many people in Puerto Rico that would want to be part of a team that's never been to the Olympics. Hopefully we get to go. Personally for me, it's a big deal for all the hard work I put in since I started playing volleyball and all the work that my family's put in to get me there. It would be just amazing to just be there and be part of the team and go out there and experience it."
