BOISE, Idaho — The 2024 Summer Olympic games are a little over a month away and Caldwell Olympian Alyssa Mendoza is getting ready to make history heading out to prepare for her first Olympic bout.
Mendoza was up early Friday morning as Caldwell Police meet her and her family at the Purple Sage Golf Course in Caldwell and received the VIP treatment with a police escort on I-84 all the way to the Boise airport.
"It was a big shock to wake up this morning and meet up with them because I did not expect this many people. I thought maybe one car in front, one card in the back and then there was like three cars in front and like four or five in the back,” Mendoza said. “So, it's amazing, all the support and love that I've gotten.”
When she got to the airport, she was greeted by Caldwell Fire, Caldwell police and the mayor of Caldwell, all there to give Mendoza a proper send off.
“Value and hard work are an important aspect of what we're here for today. The amount of work, the amount of training, the amount of sacrifice that goes into representing our country in the Olympics,” Caldwell Fire Chief Richard Frawley said. “The least we can do is say thank you as a member of our community and wish her the best, knowing that she's going to do great.”
Mendoza secured her spot at the Olympics by winning each of her bouts by unanimous decision at the final world qualification tournament in May.
She's coming off a strong rookie season on the international circuit in 2023 in which she finished on the podium at three tournaments.
This is a big deal as the 20-year-old feather weight is set to become the first Olympic boxer from the Gem State when she competes at the Paris games.
Boxing begins Saturday July 27 and Mendoza’s Olympic debut will be a few days later, July 30th. That will be your chance to catch the Caldwell native.
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