Diana Flores, a slight woman with long jet-black hair, is the quarterback for Mexico’s women’s flag football team, which won the gold medal and the world championship, defeating a strong U.S. team in a close, hard-fought game.
Flores, once considered too short to be a quarterback, played many other positions with the Aztecs before finally taking on the premier leadership role. Watching clips of the game, one can clearly see the skill and physical condition of these athletes. Listening to an interview with Diana and then with her American counterpart makes one proud of these women, who present themselves with such intelligence and competitive spirit.
Over the past four years, the Mexicans have been one of the top elite teams in international competition. As all athletes know, it is not easy to maintain oneself and a team at such a high level of professionalism. This world victory is a credit to them, their coaches, and their families, who have never given up on them.
In recent years, the public has increasingly begun to follow women’s basketball, soccer, track and field, and now flag football. The skill level and physical power these women display are remarkable. Watching their competitions across so many sports reminds us of their extraordinary abilities. My hope is that one day a woman will run a four-minute mile. Ten years ago, I wrote a poem about the woman who would reach that goal.
It is also heartening to see mariachi groups now featuring many talented women. We must encourage all boys and girls to strive for excellence in whatever field they choose.
However, there remains great inequality in the financial support for women’s sports—one of the most blatant sexist injustices in front of our eyes. Pay women athletes what they deserve! As a sports community, we want both our boys and our girls to succeed in life, and sports are an excellent avenue for developing leadership skills, understanding the meaning of teamwork, and learning to support and depend on others.
“Quarterback Diana Flores leads Mexico to flag football gold medal win,” read the headlines. Flores exclaimed:
“It’s a dream come true for me, for the entire team, and for the flag football community in Mexico.”
The recent Marketing and Communication graduate from Tec de Monterrey’s Santa Fe campus said that this victory showcases the level at which the sport is played across the country. Watching videos of the U.S. and Mexican teams in the final moments of the championship makes you proud of these incredible athletes.
“We’ve always been among the top, and today we’ve shown that the best flag football in the world is played in our country. This marks the beginning of a new era,” Diana said in a statement.
This Mexican team is a great, well-oiled, and emotionally powerful force; one of the most remarkable gatherings of talent and dedication.
In the final seconds of the game, the victory anthem “Cielito Lindo” was sung from the stands. The Mexican women’s squad made history in their flag football debut at this global competition.
“I am very proud of what each of the Mexican players did on the field. Those last seconds, waiting for the game to end and to taste glory, were indescribable,” said Flores.
The Mexican team celebrated in the United States on the night of July 14 with some relatives.
Diana’s parents and siblings are very important to her, and even though they could not be with her in person on this occasion, she said she was eager to return to the Olympic Village, connect to the Internet, and talk to them.
“They are my motivation. I want to get back there and talk to them on the phone,” she said.
Their last meeting was during what has become known as The Rematch, an event held in Los Angeles last February as part of the Super Bowl Experience, where the Mexicans lived up to the name and took revenge by winning 32–25.
“We know that the United States plays good football. They’ve got a good level, but we prepared a lot, both physically and mentally. We knew we had to be ready for any team,” confessed Diana.
“I think the passion that each one of us shows on the field was what allowed us to take this result home,” she added, describing the triumph.
The U.S. quarterback, Vanita Krouch, like Diana, is smart and professional. It is inspiring to see these two leaders respecting each other and looking forward to more games and competitions.
President Sheinbaum celebrates triumph
During her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated Mexico’s women’s flag football team, who won gold at the World Games, an Olympics-style event.
“What is the name of the sport that is similar to American football? flag football. The Mexican women won; many congratulations! They beat the United States,” the president said.
We must encourage more young girls to do their best and support them in whatever field they choose.