Help Veronica's Olympic journey to make history!

Hello! My name is Veronica Nicacio, a native of Washington State in the great Pacific Northwest. Ever since I was young, I loved being active in many sports and had the blessing to try many different kinds growing up. During my freshman year of high school track however, I suffered from ongoing shin splints and began to look for an alternative. Luckily, a mutual friend told me about the local rowing at Vancouver Lake which I tried out, fell in love, and never looked back. Later, I was recruited to the team at the University of Portland and there completed my four years of undergrad studying while being able to row. Post graduation and doing a year of volunteer missionary work at the OSU Newman Center, I have since moved to upstate New York to fulfill my dream of becoming an Olympian by joining the ARION elite team in Saratoga Springs.

I grew up the eldest of seven children with both my parents first-generation citizens from Mexico. Both sides of my family had humble beginnings, especially my mother's side initially worked in the fields as migrant workers centered in Washington State. My parents both had to work very hard and built up their lives starting from very little but they pushed through many obstacles and were able to make a new life. What I have for work ethic came solely from their example.

The sport of rowing is not very diverse due to its lack of accessibility, and I am currently one of the few people of color training at all at the elite level. So few women of minority have made it in this sport, that anything significant that I do will be making history.

However, this journey I am undertaking is not only difficult mentally and physically, but also financially. Because I have to travel for much of the year due to training and it can be difficult to have enough to not only cover the basic bills of rent, car insurance etc but also purchase healthy groceries and supplements that would be necessary to nourish my body with the work-load I undertake.

In the last year, I raced with the 12th fastest time at the last ranking national regatta and this year won 2 gold and 1 silver at the Pan American Games in Chile the open women's double and silver in the women's quad on my first US team. My goal is to make the Olympic team in Paris in 2024 and LA 2028. I have improved greatly since I've first begun and have grown much closer to my goal!

With your assistance, you could help me close that gap by allowing me to prioritize recovery and health as well as fund important race opportunities that require travel fees. With your donation, you are not only helping to promote diversity with potentially the first Latina rower for the Olympic team in the United States but also assist in the raising up of a potential role model and symbol of hope for the next generation of youth. Someone maybe they can look up to who can encourage them to chase their dreams and make the most of the life that is given to each of us.

Thank you and God bless!

En pax,

Veronica

Photocred: Konrad Weeber @three_phases_of_water