The 22-year-old Washburn University junior beat Gallardo 15-11 Wednesday and won a 23-11 decision against the 19-year-old California State University sophomore on Saturday.

Because he lost a match two weeks ago during the U.S. Olympic Trials in Oakland, Calif., Guardado had to fight his way through the loser's bracket there and win both his Thursday and Saturday bouts against Gallardo to make the team.

Coming through the loser's bracket made Saturday's victory - witnessed by a national television audience on NBC - that much sweeter for Guardado, the smallest member of the U.S. boxing delegation.

``It's an overwhelming feeling. I think to myself that I'm now an Olympic athlete, and I can't believe it. It's been a dream of mine for 11 years and now it's come true,'' Guardado said.

Guardado said he planned to spend the next few days relaxing and enjoying some meals without having to worry about his weight. Both he and Gallardo weighed in at 105.3 pounds, just under the 106-pound maximum for their weight class.

Then he and all 24 of the athletes who made it to this week's Box-offs will spend the next two months training as a team to take on the rest of the world's best boxers in July. It's an opportunity Guardado said he's glad he didn't give up on.

``There have been some times when I thought the dieting, the running and all the training and preparation just weren't worth it. Especially when I would lose a tough fight. Especially when I lost a fight I though I'd won,'' said Guardado, who paused and looked at the gold, red, white and blue championship belt in his hands.