Puerto Rico has been through a lot. From the physical damage inflicted by 2017's Hurricane Maria, to the crushing oppression of the national debt crisis, this island of over three million American citizens is nothing if not resilient. It helps when people support each other through their struggles and celebrate the successes of their fellow citizens. The rise of the Puerto Rican women's table tennis team illustrates this perfectly. Comprising Adriana Diaz, her sister Melanie Diaz, and Daniely Rios, the team recently returned from the Pan American Games in Lima with a weighty haul of gold. 18-year-old Melanie Diaz is the star of the team. Ranked 30th in the world, she captured the women's singles title with a 4-1 victory over the United States' Wu Yue. In the team final, however, it was her big sister Melanie's turn to shine. Tied two-all with Brazil in the final, world #88 Melanie found herself playing the deciding match of the team championship. While Brazil's captain Bruna Takahashi, ranked 69th in the world, raced out to win the first two games and had multiple championship points in the third, it was Melanie who showed the stronger nerves. After winning the third game 17-15, Melanie claimed the last two games, the match and the Pan American team championship for Puerto Rico. While the island celebrated, one notable personage sent the team a heartfelt personal message: none other than Luis Fonsi (pictured, right), he of the record-obliterating international smash song "Despacito." In the video message, Fonsi underscores what the women's accomplishments mean for their island nation. “You are the pride of our country," said Fonsi (translated from Spanish). "Thank you for all your hard work, effort, discipline and, of course, for bringing the gold medal to our little island, especially now when it is needed more than ever.” While it is certainly sweet to get props from a world-famous pop star, Fonsi's compatriot and collaborator Daddy Yankee (pictured, left) has already taken his support of the team one step further. Last fall, the Diaz sisters were in danger of missing several major European tournaments, vital for maintaining their world-class form, not to mention the world ranking points necessary for Olympic qualification. While Puerto Rico's Olympic Committee would traditionally fund its athletes' training, the aforementioned debt crisis rendered this impossible. When all looked lost, in swooped the unlikely hero Daddy Yankee, who paid for the Diaz sisters' trip to both the Swedish and Austrian Opens. Daddy Yankee also generously picked up the tab for Daddy Diaz, who doubles as the sisters' coach. As the Pan American Games final amply demonstrated, the margin between success and failure at the highest levels is razor-thin. The ability to train on a regular basis against the best in the world is essential to maintain a competitive edge; thus, Daddy Yankee funding the European trip directly contributed to the team winning in Lima. Such magnanimous gestures remind us that no one gets through this life without help from family, friends and fellow ordinary citizens.

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