Andrea Durán will finally get a chance to live the dream she's thought about for years: To earn a Olympic gold medal as a member of the U.S. Olympic women's softball team at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.
Since Durán, 24, was at least 10 years old, the third baseman from Selma has had the Olympics on her mind. Now that Durán -- a former stand out infielder at Selma High School and later at UCLA -- will have a chance to make her dream a reality, it could be the single chance she will have to earn an Olympic gold medal against the world's elite players.
The International Olympic Commitee (IOC) voted in 2005 to remove softball and baseball from the competition for the upcoming 2012 London Games. For the 2016 Olympic games, another vote is scheduled when the IOC meets in Denmark in 2009. Softball and baseball will compete for two slots with five other sports.
Until then, Durán and every one of her teammates on the squad is attempting to reach the pinnacle of their game in time for Beijing this August.
The United States has won the last three Olympic gold championship games (1996, 2000, 2004), but this may be Durán's one and only chance in the competition.
"First of all, I feel very fortunate to have been chosen for this team," said Durán in a telephone conversation from Pennsylvania.
The U.S. National Softball Team is in the midst of their 'Bound 4 Beijing' tour, traversing the country playing exhibition games and advocating support.
"It's sad because you don't know when the sport will get reinstated, so we're using the 'Bound 4 Beijing' tour just to get softball out there," said Durán, whose no stranger to international competition.
USA Softball, the governing body of the sport in the United States, has been helping Durán in her preparation.
In 2003, she earned a silver medal with Team USA in the Junior World Championship. Durán finished the tournament with a home run, scoring five runs overall, and even hit a triple against The Netherlands in the opening game.
In 2004, she competed for the USA Softball's Schutt Elite Team in the Canada Cup and in the U.S. Champions Cup, and even playing all nine games with the USA's Gold Medal Team in the World University Games.
"They say that it's an awesome experience," said Durán of the Olympics. "... and a whirlwind of emotion, but that it's awesome to be there in that arena and to be able to play at that level. Hopefully I'll bring back a gold medal, a jersey, memorabilia that my teammates will sign and that I can show my kids and my grandchildren."
Durán graduated from UCLA in 2007 with a degree in sociology and a minor in classic civilization.
She also helped the Bruins score two College World Series titles.
"What stands out for me is winning the World Series in college, back-to-back," she recalls. "And going to China to play in the World Championships, and winning over there. That was my first real taste of intense foreign competition."
Since leaving college, she's participated in the PFX Tour, a professional softball tour that's looking to get off the ground.
"I'm in the PFX Tour (ProFastPitch X-treme). It's something you can do after college, where you can connect professionals with amateur teams. We're hoping to get it into something bigger, we'll have more teams with more funding," she said.
On May 16, the Olympic squad will play a friendly game in Visalia to benefit the Miracle League. The Miracle League built a baseball diamond specifically designed for physically and mentally challenged players.
Durán said her parents -- Janie and John Durán -- will be at the game alongside numerous aunts and uncles and other relatives.
Also on the roster is Crystal Bustos, who won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games. In 2003, Bustos helped the United States win a gold medal in the Pan-Am Games.
Absent from the team is pitcher Lisa Fernández, who was called the best softball player in the world by critics. The Long Beach native pitched in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic gold medal games.
The Miracle League fundraiser is scheduled for May 15, and the exhibition game will be played on May 16.
For tickets and information, call (559) 635-1478.