Diana Flores might solely dream of being a part of the Tremendous Bowl as a younger woman attending to grips with flag soccer, however now an enormous star in her personal proper, the participant has traveled to the NFL’s best highlight on quite a few events. It’s all due to an inspiring story and an unwavering dedication to her chosen sport as M&F discovered on this unique chat.
Diana Flores has barely unpacked her suitcase as she hops on a zoom chat with Muscle & Health. For Flores, it’s the start of a loopy few days that may culminate in her commentating on Tremendous Bowl LIX in New Orleans for Univision. As a woman born and raised in Mexico Metropolis, Flores bonded along with her father over a shared love of the game and start her storied journey with flag soccer aged 8. However as a younger girl attempting to make her approach in what was nonetheless predominantly a person’s sport, Flores wanted some heroes that she might establish with. Billie Jean King would show to be a guiding pressure.
“I knew the primary time about her after I was most likely like 12 years outdated,” says Flores. “And since I used to be going via a second in time the place I used to be the one woman in an all-boys crew, in an all-boys league, the way in which I discovered about her was via Googling girls enjoying with males. Like, had this occurred earlier than? (I wanted to know) as a result of I form of felt like an intruder, and that’s how I discovered her. Then (I started to look as much as) different athletes just like the Williams sisters and lots of different Mexican athletes like Paola Longoria, who now could be a really pricey good friend of mine.”
Flores didn’t simply excel at flag soccer, however she grew to become one of many NFL’s greatest ambassadors. She was first invited to the Tremendous Bowl in 2023 to star in a industrial that additionally featured Billie Jean King as a cool cameo. The “Simply Run With It” advert was shot to advertise flag soccer as an Olympic sport in 2028 and to encourage extra girls to play. The thrilling plotline noticed her working from celebrities, employees, and even her personal mother with a view to defend her flag.
Diana Flores Simply Runs With It
“We knew that we had been doing was one thing massive, that it was going to have an incredible impression, and that it was going to empower numerous girls and ladies on the market,” says Flores, who even acquired to share a second off-camera along with her hero King.
Today, nonetheless, Flores is a shining star in her personal proper. After choosing up medals in her teenagers, the quarterback helped take her crew to gold on the 2022 World Video games towards the USA, finishing 4 touchdowns and main Mexico to a dominant 39-6. In 2023, Flores performed offense on the Professional Bowl however is maybe most happy with being the present captain of the Mexican nationwide crew.
Not solely has Diana Flores commanded the eye of these on the sphere, however international manufacturers like Beneath Armour, Oakley, and Neutrogena now work with the elite athlete due to how she has helped to boost the profile of flag soccer. Fortuitously, she hasn’t misplaced website of her ardour to carry out, nonetheless.
“So, there’s numerous completely different phases for a flag soccer athlete,” she explains. “It comes off preseason once you work on endurance, resistance, conditioning, all of that. However then it’s a must to decelerate and switch into being extra explosive (with) extra agility on the sphere. After which the soccer a part of it, technique.”
She provides: “I’m a quarterback, so it’s a must to put some reps in to attach along with your vast receivers and work on that a part of the sport, so it is vitally, very attention-grabbing. I’m so fortunate to have a tremendous crew behind me, not solely from the nationwide crew, my teammates, to my coaches, but in addition at my college. I’m about to graduate from my grasp’s (in Innovation, Enterprise and Growth). So, I nonetheless apply and practice with my school crew. I imply, it takes a village to construct goals and that’s a enjoyable a part of it.”
How Diana Flores Trains for Flag Soccer
“Everyone thinks that being a quarterback is simply concerning the arm, proper?” says Flores. “Sure, it’s a must to be sturdy and have sturdy arms but in addition be capable to have that velocity and energy, to simply be capable to give time to my vast receivers, and on the similar time make that excellent throw.”
Raise Heavy
“Free weightlifting, squats, these are the issues that it’s a must to plan into your coaching schedule it doesn’t matter what,” says Flores. “Deadlifts and in addition energy cleans. I’m engaged on my snatch now proper now as a result of it takes numerous mobility. Lifting heavy offers you the idea.”
Plyometric Coaching
“Okay, now that you simply construct this muscle and energy and energy, what are you going to do with it?” asks Flores. “How are you going to translate this energy to the sphere?” The participant explains that field jumps and resistance band work is crucial for staying versatile and constructing explosive energy for video games.
What Recommendation Does Diana Flores Give to New Flag Footballers?
“A great way to begin is simply get these reps in,” she explains. “I imply, in the event you’re a large receiver, get these catches. Be certain that it turns into a straightforward factor to catch 50 or 100 balls a day. It will depend on you and your grind, and your will to enhance. Get extra agile on the sphere. Get the the footwork locked in every single day or each week, right here and there. I feel that’s a great way to begin. However then, if you’re prepared to excel on the sphere as an athlete, it is very important focus in your athleticism, and that includes going to the gymnasium. Raise weights and elevate heavy weights. Don’t be afraid to do this, then be sensible along with your preparation.”
Diana Flores is all the time desperate to cross on her pleasure and knowledge round flag soccer and commonly seems at clinics to encourage the following technology. “After I began enjoying, I used to be not allowed to step on the soccer area however now, having greater than 20 million gamers in additional than 100 nations, now now we have school scholarships, not solely in Mexico however in the USA. Now it’s an Olympic sport, and it’s opening so many doorways for girls and ladies who now can dream larger than ever. It has been a tremendous journey to be a part of.”
To observe Diana Flores potential additional journeys to the 2025 World Video games and the 2028 Olympics on Instagram click on right here!
