Overcast with rain showers at times. High 81F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..
Heavy thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 78F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Updated: October 12, 2024 @ 3:13 pm
Lucas Jaramillo.
Lucas Jaramillo.
In the 1980s, there was a popular cartoon on television in Europe and Latin America called Sport Billy. The title character travels to Earth from his home planet of Olympus, a territory inhabited by extremely athletic beings. Sport Billy brings a magic gym bag with him, containing the tools he needs in his mission to save sports on Earth.
Key Biscayne’s Lucas Jaramillo could be considered our island’s Sport Billy. Lucas played many sports growing up in Colombia but his first love was always soccer. When he was in 5th grade, his teachers were already bumping him up to play with high schoolers.
“I am left-footed, and that gives me an advantage on the field,” he admits.
Lucas had thoughts of turning professional after high school, but his father wanted him to have a college education. He attended Bentley University in Boston and now calls that one of the best experiences of his life. He studied economics and finance and was a standout on the soccer team. He graduated in 1995 as Bentely’s all-time leading scorer, a record he still holds, and was later inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
He went back to Colombia and worked in finance for a few years before becoming CEO of futbolred.com, an online news source for all things soccer-related. He enjoyed that work but felt there was something missing in his life.
“I woke up one morning and realized I wasn’t happy,” he explains. “I decided I wanted to give professional soccer a try.” He was 27.
He talked his way into an interview with one of the professional teams in Bogota, Independiente Santa Fe. The owner agreed to give Lucas a chance, but he would have to start out in the second division.
Practices were hard. Lucas found himself running on the pitch with 17-year-olds. “After a month of training, everything hurt, even the hair on my head,” he says now with a smile.
Though previously a midfielder, he was put into his first game as a striker. A few of the starters weren’t available, and the coach needed someone to play forward.
His team won that game, its lone goal a header by Lucas. He scored in four more games and, a month into the season, was promoted to the top level team. He made his debut at age 27. In the history of Colombian soccer, no other player had started so late.
Lucas played three seasons with Independiente Santa Fe, scoring 22 goals. He was popular. The team has a large stadium and an enthusiastic fan base, and Lucas relished the excitement.
At the age of 31, after being traded, he decided it was time to retire. “I felt I had accomplished what I set out to do and was ready for the next step,” he says.
He observed many young players grappling with how to plan for their future. Putting his academic background to use, he became a financial advisor. He also manages contracts and scouts players. Among the high-profile players on his roster are David Ospina and Edwin Cardona.
Lucas is married to Catalina Aristizabal. The pair settled on Key Biscayne in 2016, with their children Oriana and Emiliano. Catalina is a health coach with her own line of organic products, Terra Mistica. Both teens are athletic themselves, with Oriana playing volleyball and Emiliano soccer like his dad.
Lucas is pleased with the soccer community on the Key but laments that the kids lack sufficient playing fields. He’d like to see the program expand and find more opportunities for developing talent.
He travels often for work but always returns to the Key to spend weekends with his family. “Every time I cross the bridge, I remember what a privilege it is to live here. Key Biscayne is Miami’s best kept secret.”
For the last #lighterside column, click here.
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