When Alternative Calls, Diana Flores Simply Runs With It

Diana Flores might 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 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 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 woman attempting to make her manner in what was nonetheless predominantly a person’s sport, Flores wanted some heroes that she might determine with. Billie Jean King would show to be a guiding drive.

“I knew the primary time about her once I was in all probability like 12 years outdated,” says Flores.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 workforce, in an all-boys league, the way in which I realized about her was via Googling girls enjoying 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 lots of different Mexican athletes like Paola Longoria, who now’s a really expensive 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 to be able 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 ideal impression, and that it was going to empower quite a lot of girls and women on the market,” says Flores, who even received to share a second off-camera along with her hero King.

Nowadays, nonetheless, Flores is a shining star in her personal proper. After choosing up medals in her teenagers, the quarterback helped take her workforce 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 workforce. 

Not solely has Diana Flores commanded the eye of these on the sphere, however world manufacturers like Underneath 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 web site of her ardour to carry out, nonetheless.

“So, there’s quite a lot of totally different phases 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 sphere. 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 vast receivers and work on that a part of the sport, so it is extremely, very attention-grabbing. I’m so fortunate to have a tremendous workforce behind me, not solely from the nationwide workforce, my teammates, to my coaches, but additionally at my faculty. I’m about to graduate from my grasp’s (in Innovation, Enterprise and Improvement). So, I nonetheless follow and practice with my school workforce. I imply, it takes a village to construct desires 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 only be capable of give time to my vast receivers, and on the identical time make that excellent throw.”

Carry 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 in addition energy cleans. I’m engaged on my snatch now proper now as a result of it takes quite a lot of mobility. Lifting heavy provides 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 start out is simply get these reps in,” she explains. “I imply, in case you’re a large receiver, get these catches. Ensure that it turns into a straightforward factor to catch 50 or 100 balls a day. It depends upon you and your grind, and your will to enhance. Get extra agile on the sphere. Get the the footwork locked in on daily basis or each week, right here and there. I feel that’s a great way to start out. However then, in case you are keen to excel on the sphere as an athlete, it is very important focus in your athleticism, and that includes going to the fitness center. Carry weights and elevate heavy weights. Don’t be afraid to do this, then be sensible together with your preparation.”

Diana Flores is all the time desirous to cross on her pleasure and knowledge round flag soccer and often seems at clinics to encourage the following era. “Once 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 international locations, 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 women 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!