Diana Flores may 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 lady born and raised in Mexico Metropolis, Flores bonded together with her father over a shared love of the game and start her storied journey with flag soccer aged 8. However as a younger woman making an attempt to make her approach 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 pressure.
“I knew the primary time about her once I was most likely like 12 years previous,” 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 group, in an all-boys league, the way in which I discovered 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 sort 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 pal of mine.”
Flores didn’t simply excel at flag soccer, however she turned 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 working from celebrities, employees, and even her personal mother with a purpose to shield her flag.
Diana Flores Simply Runs With It
“We knew that we had been doing was one thing huge, that it was going to have an excellent affect, and that it was going to empower numerous girls and ladies on the market,” says Flores, who even obtained to share a second off-camera together with her hero King.
As of late, nonetheless, Flores is a shining star in her personal proper. After choosing up medals in her teenagers, the quarterback helped take her group to gold on the 2022 World Video games towards america, finishing 4 touchdowns and main Mexico to a dominant 39-6. In 2023, Flores played offense at the Pro Bowl however is maybe most happy with being the present captain of the Mexican nationwide group.
Not solely has Diana Flores commanded the eye of these on the sector, however world 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 totally different levels for a flag soccer athlete,” she explains. “It comes off preseason whenever you work on endurance, resistance, conditioning, all of that. However then it’s important 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 it’s important to put some reps in to attach together with your extensive receivers and work on that a part of the sport, so it is rather, very fascinating. I’m so fortunate to have an incredible group behind me, not solely from the nationwide group, my teammates, to my coaches, but additionally 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 group. 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, it’s important to be robust and have robust arms but additionally be capable of have that pace and energy, to simply be capable of give time to my extensive receivers, and on the similar time make that excellent throw.”
Elevate Heavy
“Free weightlifting, squats, these are the issues that it’s important to plan into your coaching schedule it doesn’t matter what,” says Flores. “Deadlifts and likewise energy cleans. I’m engaged on my snatch now proper now as a result of it takes numerous mobility. Lifting heavy provides you the premise.”
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 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 begin is simply get these reps in,” she explains. “I imply, when 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 relies on you and your grind, and your will to enhance. Get extra agile on the sector. Get the the footwork locked in day by day or each week, right here and there. I believe that’s a great way to begin. 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 fitness center. Elevate weights and raise heavy weights. Don’t be afraid to do this, then be good together with your preparation.”
Diana Flores is all the time desirous to go on her pleasure and knowledge round flag soccer and repeatedly seems at clinics to encourage the subsequent technology. “Once I began taking part in, I used to be not allowed to step on the soccer subject 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 america. Now it’s an Olympic sport, and it’s opening so many doorways for girls and ladies who now can dream greater than ever. It has been an incredible 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 here!