He's a Polish-Mexican-American from Chicago who's in Beijing competing as an Olympic freestyle wrestler for Mexico and when he's not wrestling, he runs an Italian gelato caf¨¦ in Logan Square that he took over after his Polish-American dad became fascinated with Chinese acupuncture and one day several months ago, just up and decided to enroll in acupuncture school, turning over the caf¨¦ to his only son, who soon afterward learned he'd qualified for the Olympics and headed for China, which was fortuitous for Langowski's dad because he had become friends with an acupuncturist in Chicago's Chinatown, the person who had inspired dad's career change, and now the acupuncturist's extended family outside Beijing is hosting Langoswki's parents during the Games.

Unusual circumstances. Crazy timing. Strange twists of fate. They all have been part of Langowski's life since he went on an extended family vacation to Mexico City to see relatives on his mother's side.

Langowski, 23, was wrestling for Northwestern at the time and went looking for a gym in Mexico City where he could stay in shape. He wound up at the facility where the national wrestling team was training, and he was invited to participate.
Soon after, he sought dual citizenship to wrestle for Mexico while continuing at Northwestern, where he was studying economics and psychology. He traveled to Ohio and Michigan for Northwestern, Venezuela and Budapest for Mexico.

"I'd carry this big bag of schoolbooks in one hand and a big bag of gear in the other," Langowski said. "It was tough because I felt like I had to make sacrifices in both areas."

The juggling didn't stop when the 6-foot-1-inch, 265-pound Langowksi got to Beijing. As Mexico's one-man wrestling team, he has had to scramble to make many arrangements for himself, including finding space to train.

He has cabbed it to a local judo gym and exercised on the grass in the Olympic Village with other wrestlers. He even sparred on the Great Wall when he and his training partner were stranded by ferocious thunderstorms.

He's eager to focus on nothing but wrestling in his opening bout Thursday."I think I've gone through so much, just getting here is the big accomplishment," he said. "I don't think anyone expects me to win a gold or anything, but maybe I'll go out there and surprise some people."

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