Latina women have been breaking records for decades. Yet, even now, many Latina athletes are still not household names. From local competitions to the Olympics, there has been a long history of Latina women in sports, but the journey of getting recognition has had its challenges. From facing racist and sexist discrimination, to having severely underfunded athletic programs and beyond, Latina women have often had to break boundaries just to be seen.
Jessica Mendoza
Jessica Mendoza is a Mexican American former professional softball player and current Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster. Born in 1980, Mendoza grew up right outside of LA. Mendoza then attended Stanford University, where she led the Cardinals to their first Women’s College World Series. At the international level, Mendoza represented Team USA at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, winning a gold and silver medal respectively. After her playing career was over, Mendoza became the first woman to serve as an analyst on a nationally televised Major League Baseball (MLB) game. Mendoza is best known for commentating on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network’s Sunday night baseball, the 2020 World Series, and the 2020 Olympics.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is one of the top women’s hurdlers in the world. Having a father who competed in hurdles in college and a mother who was a sprinter, Camacho-Quinn was born to race. From South Carolina, Camacho-Quinn decided to run for the Puerto Rico national team because of her mother’s Puerto Rican roots. She ran the 100-meter hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning first place and becoming the first Afro-Latina Puerto Rican to win a gold medal. Camacho-Quinn also has the tenth fastest female 100-meter hurdle time in history. In 2024, Camacho-Quinn returned to the Olympics and ended up going home with a bronze medal, making her the only Puerto Rican to win two Olympic medals.
Sofía Mulánovich
Sofía Mulánovich started surfing at the age of four and got inducted into the surfing hall of fame 20 years later. She grew up in Punta Hermosa, Peru, where surfing was the local pastime. In 2004, Mulánovich won the World Surfing Championship, making her the first Latina to ever win the award since its inauguration 40 years earlier. In addition to her surfing career, Mulánovich founded Proyecto Sofia Mulánovich, a program which supports talented young surfers from different socioeconomic backgrounds across Peru and helps them train to pursue their dreams of becoming professional athletes.
Mendoza, Camacho-Quinn, and Mulánovich are just three of the countless Latina women who made strides in their sports. Not only are they opening doors for more young Latina women to get recognition in their sports, but they are breaking down barriers and inspiring others in the process.