Diana Flores may solely dream of being a part of the Tremendous Bowl as a younger lady attending to grips with flag soccer, however now an enormous star in her personal proper, the participant has traveled to the NFL’s biggest highlight on quite a few events. It’s all because of an inspiring story and an unwavering dedication to her chosen sport as M&F came upon 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 lady 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 making an attempt to make her method in what was nonetheless predominantly a person’s sport, Flores wanted some heroes that she may establish with. Billie Jean King would show to be a guiding drive.
“I knew the primary time about her once I was most likely like 12 years outdated,” says Flores.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 lady in an all-boys staff, in an all-boys league, the way in which I realized about her was via Googling girls taking part in 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 plenty of different Mexican athletes like Paola Longoria, who now’s 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 finest 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 operating from celebrities, workers, and even her personal mother with the intention to shield her flag.
Diana Flores Simply Runs With It
“We knew that we have been doing was one thing huge, that it was going to have an amazing influence, and that it was going to empower plenty of girls and women on the market,” says Flores, who even obtained to share a second off-camera along with her hero King.
Lately, nevertheless, Flores is a shining star in her personal proper. After selecting up medals in her teenagers, the quarterback helped take her staff to gold on the 2022 World Video games in opposition to the USA, finishing 4 touchdowns and main Mexico to a dominant 39-6. In 2023, Flores performed offense on the Professional Bowl however is probably most happy with being the present captain of the Mexican nationwide staff.
Not solely has Diana Flores commanded the eye of these on the sector, however world manufacturers like Underneath Armour, Oakley, and Neutrogena now work with the elite athlete due to how she has helped to lift the profile of flag soccer. Fortuitously, she hasn’t misplaced web site of her ardour to carry out, nevertheless.
“So, there may be plenty of totally different levels for a flag soccer athlete,” she explains. “It comes off preseason while you work on endurance, resistance, conditioning, all of that. However then you need to decelerate and switch into being extra explosive (with) extra agility on the sector. After which the soccer a part of it, technique.”
She provides: “I’m a quarterback, so you need to put some reps in to attach along with your huge receivers and work on that a part of the sport, so it is extremely, very fascinating. I’m so fortunate to have a tremendous staff behind me, not solely from the nationwide staff, 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 follow and prepare with my school staff. 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
“All people thinks that being a quarterback is simply in regards to the arm, proper?” says Flores. “Sure, you need to be robust and have robust arms but in addition be capable to have that velocity and energy, to simply be capable to give time to my huge receivers, and on the similar time make that good throw.”
Raise Heavy
“Free weightlifting, squats, these are the issues that you need 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 plenty of mobility. Lifting heavy provides you the premise.”
Plyometric Coaching
“Okay, now that you just 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 sector?” The participant explains that field jumps and resistance band work is important for staying versatile and constructing explosive energy for video games.
What Recommendation Does Diana Flores Give to New Flag Footballers?
“A great way to start out is simply get these reps in,” she explains. “I imply, should you’re a large receiver, get these catches. Be sure it turns into a straightforward factor to catch 50 or 100 balls a day. It is determined by you and your grind, and your will to enhance. Get extra agile on the sector. Get the the footwork locked in day-after-day or each week, right here and there. I feel that’s a great way to start out. However then, in case you are prepared to excel on the sector as an athlete, you will need to focus in your athleticism, and that includes going to the gymnasium. Raise weights and raise heavy weights. Don’t be afraid to do this, then be sensible along with your preparation.”
Diana Flores is all the time desirous to cross on her pleasure and knowledge round flag soccer and commonly seems at clinics to encourage the following technology. “After I began taking part in, I used to be not allowed to step on the soccer area however now, having greater than 20 million gamers in additional than 100 international locations, now we have now school scholarships, not solely in Mexico however in the USA. Now it’s an Olympic sport, and it’s opening so many doorways for ladies and women who now can dream greater 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!
