A North Texan aspires to represent Puerto Rico at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. Kellie Delka, a skeleton athlete from North Texas, has been pursuing her Olympic ambitions for more than a decade now. With the Winter Olympics in Beijing less than a month away, she is on the verge of accomplishing her goal.
In order to visualize it happening, Delka tells herself, “I always tell myself when I’m going, not if I’m going.”
Delka has been participating in European competitions, accumulating points in order to qualify for the Olympics in Rio.
The Collinsville, Texas, native and UNT graduate has represented Puerto Rico on the ice for the past four seasons.
“I was given an incredible chance to relocate to Puerto Rico and represent the island.” They’re attempting to establish their own winter federation, “Delka added. She has been a full-time resident of Puerto Rico for a number of years.
The task of competing for a tiny nation has proven to be difficult. I’m traveling throughout Europe on my own for the first time. I’m in the process of reserving my flights, hotels, and automobiles. I’m driving myself to the races. It’s a whole different feeling. “I don’t have a strong sense of team camaraderie,” Delka said.
Training for a winter sport in a tropical paradise, on the other hand, has its advantages.
Fortunately, I have a gorgeous beach to run on, so I can’t complain too much, “she said with a grin on her face.
Delka’s family and friends back home in North Texas have continued to support her Olympic adventure, particularly in terms of financial assistance. She believes he would not have progressed as far as he has in the sport if it weren’t for them.
“There have been so many people who have been very nice to me and who have assisted me.” In a couple of weeks, Delka aims to demonstrate that all of his efforts have been worthwhile.
