Interview with Coda basketball Olympian Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage
Renca Dunn (Daily Moth Reporter): You flew to Tokyo, Japan, and stayed for about a month or something?
Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage: Almost a month, yes.
Renca: So, what was the experience like? Did you enjoy it? I’ve looked at your Instagram and it seems you really enjoyed yourself there.
-Yes.
[Instagram Photos]
What’s your quick takeaway, one experience you would like to share with us about your Olympics experience in Japan?
Sabrina: Really, I think… Japanese people who volunteer are really nice and sweet, friendly people, and always gave me a warm welcome anywhere I went like training facilities or the cafeteria. They’re really very nice, friendly people. Also, I think a defining moment was the opening ceremony, you know, that experience was amazing. It was an empty stadium, but it still feels like, you know, we made it, and I shed a tear… I had a lot of overwhelming feelings, that I’m here and we made it after all this time.
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Renca: Wow. What would you say was a challenging experience there?
Sabrina: We, the Puerto Rico team, knew that we’re the “bottom” team, you know. Other teams already had more experience and this is the first time Puerto Rico has gone into the Olympics. I knew they were all very competitive and very good players who played together on top teams, and I think that was very challenging, you know, playing against those teams, but also we know where we stand and we can compete with them. We know we can, and we want to build our Puerto Rico program for future teams, not now, and this isn’t the last time we’ll get into the Olympics, but we want to establish a bar for the future. That was a challenge, but also, it was a wonderful experience to face the best athletes and the best teams in the world, really.
[Instagram Video]
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Renca: Yeah. Did you have a chance to meet some of the famous Olympians?
Sabrina: Really, I saw a bunch of them and I wish I knew more about other sports, because I know more about the NBA and WNBA players. Some in the USA team but also some from different countries. I saw a lot, mostly in the cafeteria, you know. We didn’t want to approach them while they were eating, but we were able to see them. That was nice.
Renca: While a deaf person would typically say hi and introduce themselves! You could have done that!
Sabrina: I know, right! They were eating, so I wanted to respect their time.
Renca: Totally understandable, right! That’s for sure. You know, that’d be interrupting their meal time. I understand that!
Sabrina: Yeah, “I’m eating”, you know.
Renca: Yeah, I get that! Cool.
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Renca: It sounds like you had a great experience in Japan. Would you play again if Puerto Rico asks you to do it again, or would you play again in the Olympics four years from now?
Sabrina: If we have the opportunity, yes. You know, we would have pre-qualifying tournaments to start the process again and know where and when, and I don't know. Right now, our next tournament is the World Cup and that will take place during the fall of next year.
Renca: Where will that be?
Sabrina: Australia. We have a few qualifying tournaments and we have one more qualifying tournament, I think it’s in the spring around February or March. But when and where exactly, I don’t know. We’ll wait for the call and we’ll be ready to go.
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Renca: Great. Thank you again for your time. I wish you the best of luck with your basketball journey, and just continue doing what you do!
Sabrina: I will, thank you!
***Correction: the headline previously had an error in naming Sabrina as a “deaf Olympian.” We have corrected it to say she is a Coda (Child of Deaf Adults).
Previous coverage of Sabrina: https://www.dailymoth.com/blog/part-2-olympic-athletes-from-deaf-community