Texas A&M Graduate Fernando Palomo Covers Olympic Games in Paris

Fernando Palomo’s passion for the Olympic Games runs deep. This Texas A&M University graduate, who now works with ESPN‘s Spanish language outlets, is heading to Paris this summer to cover the games. It’s his fifth time doing so, and he can’t wait to share the inspiring stories of the athletes, including some fellow Aggies.

Palomo, a Class of 1995 graduate, has been preparing for this moment since he was a kid growing up in El Salvador. He recalls being captivated by the Olympics when he heard about the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. He was just 11 or 12 years old but began researching everything he could about the event, diving into encyclopedias and books to satisfy his curiosity.

His fascination grew from there. Palomo followed the news and the athletes, even training himself to wake up in the middle of the night to catch the latest Olympic action. “It just bit me like a little bug,” he said, explaining how the Olympic spirit became a significant part of his life.

This year, covering the games in Paris holds special meaning for him. Paris is steeped in Olympic history, having hosted the games in 1900 and 1924, and being the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement. “It’s just magical,” Palomo said, referencing the Olympic rings that will decorate the city’s iconic monuments.

Palomo knows capturing such a monumental event comes with challenges, but his love for storytelling shines through. He emphasizes that telling the stories behind the athletes is just as important as the statistics. “Every journalist’s responsibility should be to convey the stories of the athletes that have performed at the highest possible level,” he said.

This year, approximately 11,000 athletes from around the world will compete, including Texas A&M women’s basketball head coach Joni Taylor as an assistant coach for the USA Basketball Women’s National Team. Palomo finds it rewarding to see fellow Aggies make their mark on the world stage.

He reminisced about running into former Texas A&M sprinter Fred Kerley, who won a silver medal in the 100 meters in 2021. “It just felt like we were in a small portion of College Station,” he said fondly.

Kerley is set to race for glory once again, along with several new Aggie athletes making their Olympic debuts. Regardless of results, Palomo believes every participant has already accomplished something extraordinary. “You’re able to see the joy of somebody that just finished 15th in an event,” he noted, recognizing that every Olympian has worked hard to reach that stage.