[1] At Welsh High School he played football and competed in a variety of track and field events.

[3] From the fall of 1931 he attended Loyola University New Orleans, receiving an athletic scholarship midway through his freshman year; originally, the 120 yard hurdles were his main event, but he dropped it soon due to awkward falls and turned to the triple jump.

[3] Romero developed rapidly; his season best in 1932 was 49 ft 10+1⁄4 in (15.20 m), the best jump by an American since Dan Ahearn in 1913.

[5]: 75  Romero placed eighth at the Olympics, reaching 14.85 m (48 ft 8+1⁄2 in) on his best jump; as a 17-year-old, he was the youngest athlete on the American track team.

[7][8] Romero lost to newcomer Billy Brown at the 1936 AAU meet, but won with 49 ft 9 in (15.16 m) at the Olympic Trials the following week.