Track and Field

My Puerto Rican Heritage

N Our Voice By Niko Schultz

Scott Bruhn

Next summer, the U20 world championships will take place in Romania.

My dream? To make the team and represent Puerto Rico. 

As an athlete, you always compete for far more than yourself. Whether it's for your school, your team, or your family, there's always a bigger picture. 

And nothing would be more honorable to me than representing my country next year in Europe. 

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Being Boricua

 

It's ineffable describing what being Puerto Rican means to me, but I will do my best. 

I wasn't born there, never visited, heck, I don't even speak Spanish! 

Yet, somehow, I have a connection to that island that I feel in my bones. 

I guess, it's because it's in my ancestry, my blood. 

Growing up, I heard from my grandparents about the pride they have being Puerto Rican. Countless stories of what it was like growing up, the things they would eat, and the music they listened to. 

I've heard so much about life in Puerto Rico that I could write a book on it. 

And while I don't have those personal stories to share yet, I have my own Puerto Rican experience — a first-generation one. 

And it's not always easy.

Sometimes, I'd even go as far as saying it causes a bit of an identity crisis

But at the end of the day, I believe that it's all about how you feel. 

Nothing else matters.

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and living so far away from your heritage makes you yearn for it more. 

So yes, I'm proud to be Puerto Rican. 

I eat the food, listen to the music, and give me some more time and voy a aprender a hablar Español!

Road to the World Championship

 

While the road to understanding one's heritage and their relationship to it is an ongoing journey, my path to the World Championships is much clearer. 

Keep competing, keep working. 

I have to give tremendous credit to my coach, who has trained other world championship participants and understands how the recruitment and development of the Puerto Rican national team works. 

He's let me know that if I keep up my current work, I'll give myself an excellent opportunity to make it to Romania next summer. 

My biggest thing is to control what I can control. 

It's not up to me if I get selected, but I can put in the work and put my best foot forward.

If I do that, I give myself the best chance, and I can live with the results. 

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Ídolo

 

I have so many people I look up to: my parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, and other friends and family members.

But on the track, one person stands out, Ayden Owens. 

When it comes to my dreams and goals, he is my blueprint. 

He's been there and done that. Gone to the world championship and placed fourth as a Puerto Rican.

Given that he is around my age, he's shown me that a Puerto Rican can perform at the highest level on the biggest stage. 

I find that inspired and inspiring. 

He's given me hope and motivation, and I thrive to do the same for the next generation of Puerto Rican track stars.

I want them to see what I do and think, "Yes! I can do that, too!" 

 

 

My heritage

 

I'm so honored that I get to share my story today. 

It's a great opportunity to share some of my culture, and I hope I've done my mother and the rest of Puerto Rico justice in talking about what this island means too.

Whenever you meet a Puerto Rican person, it's an experience! 

I think my mother symbolizes this best. 

She's so kind and caring, but she has a lot of passion and is a no-nonsense person. 

If you do something wrong and cross the line, you will hear about it! But if you are a warm and kind person, there isn't an ask too big. 

She will do anything to help, even if it inconveniences her. 

I aim to be like her each day. 

So, I'd like to close out this piece the same way my co-host Chris Ramsey opens up our podcast Timeless Talk, where we introduce our audience to the extraordinary people we are surrounded by every single day.

This is Niko "The Puerto Rican" Schultz, and I hope you enjoyed 'listening' to my story.