Bor Marlen Esparza on Preparing for the London 2012 Olympics
Men's boxing has been an Olympic event since 1904, and for the first time ever, women's boxing is earning its rightful spot in the Games. Six-time national champion Marlen Esparza can certainly be credited for helping women earn recognition in the sport. She's won medals at the World Championships and Pan American Games, and is currently ranked sixth in the world. The 5-foot-3 Rice University student is a trailblazer off the mat, too—she's the first U.S. amateur bor to sign an endorsement deal with CoverGirl, and also the first Hispanic Olympian to be the face of the makeup brand. Read on to learn about her health tips and surprising pre-competition ritual.
Photo courtesy of CoverGirl1/6"Competing in the Olympics means everything to me. It's about accomplishing everything I set out to do in boxing—it's all or nothing. The only thing I want to do is win a gold medal for the U.S."
2/6This 22-year-old athlete is part of the first-ever U.S. women's boxing team.
Photo courtesy of CoverGirl3/6"It gives me drive that I'm a female bor. Men can't have everything to themselves! I feel like I am big part of changing a male dominated sport to a multi-gender sport."
Photo courtesy of CoverGirl4/6"One ritual that I have is that I shower before every fight. I get so nervous that I can't feel my legs, and I feel the pit of my stomach turning. I need to breath and concentrate on specific ideas like the task at hand, or sing a song over and over."
Photo courtesy of CoverGirl5/6"I'm proud to be a part of the CoverGirl brand. Hopefully women can learn from me that everyone deserves to feel beautiful! I am a lash and lip girl, so my favorite CoverGirl products are the Lash Blast Volume Mascara and LipPerfection Lipcolor in 255 Delish."
Photo courtesy of CoverGirl6/6"Make your health goals reachable and realistic. Being healthy can be fun. If you don't like running, don't run! Bike or swim instead. If food is hard to let go, eat what you like. Just make the amount smaller, and don't feel guilty about anything."
