1 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, We are back for another week of Wide Open. 2 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 2: Our guest is the. 3 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: One and only Deanna Flores, the captain and quarterback of 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: Mexico's national flag football team, led Mexico to a gold 5 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: metal in twenty twenty two at the World Games. You're 6 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: an ambassador of God knows everything under the sun, including 7 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: the NFL, and you're just making huge waves in the 8 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: world of sports. And I am so, so so happy 9 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: you took the time to come on. 10 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 2: Welcome to Wide Open. How are you update? Where are you? 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 2: What's going on? 12 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 3: They are busy much. I'm so happy to be here 13 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 3: and right now back home in Mexico, CD, which is 14 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 3: great starting prepera for what's next to come in terms 15 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 3: of competitions with the national team working on so many 16 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 3: other stuff, clinics and things like that, you know, to 17 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 3: keep growing the sport. Yes, just willing to have fun. 18 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: Yes, so much is in the future for you, clearly. 19 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: I'm sure everything you're doing right now is gearing up 20 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: for the first ever twenty twenty eight Olympics in LA 21 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 1: for flag football. 22 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: Like, how exciting is that? 23 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 3: You? Like? 24 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: Tell me everything? How do you feel? 25 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: I mean, you've dedicated your whole life to reaching this 26 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: type of this moment and this type of recognition, to 27 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: really get it. 28 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: As an Olympic sport in the Olympic Games. 29 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: Like when that announcement was made, I'm sure, like tell 30 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: me everything, What were you thinking, how are you feeling, 31 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: where were you at all the work you've done. 32 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 3: It was an amazing moment. I was at hotel and 33 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 3: I couldn't like hold myself like with emotions and everything. 34 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 3: It was like early in the morning or late night. 35 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 3: I remember calling one of my friends from the national 36 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 3: team like I don't know where you are. I don't 37 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 3: know what time is it where you are, but I 38 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 3: need you to, you know, go through this with me. 39 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 3: Because the IOC made like a live stream, you know 40 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 3: when for the votations and things like that, so we 41 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 3: got an assume goal. We had the live on our phones, 42 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 3: you know, the laptop there, just sharing that moment together. 43 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 3: We wait for like an hour just to hear from 44 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 3: their mouths, you know, like say flat football is in 45 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 3: the Olympic program for LA twenty eight. We cried together. 46 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 3: We had such a great moment there because I mean 47 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: it was a dream come true, not only personally of 48 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 3: course for me, for my friend at that moment as athletes, 49 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 3: but also for the whole flavootball community around the world. 50 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,959 Speaker 3: It is what many generations before us have dream off. 51 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 3: This opportunity is what many women before us dream of having, 52 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 3: and now it's ahead of us. We have that opportunity 53 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 3: to make our dreams come true. I've been playing for 54 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 3: almost twenty years now. I started when I was eight. 55 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 3: It's incredible, I know, a long time now. It's crazy 56 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 3: to say it or to think about it, because you know, 57 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 3: time flies when you do what you love. And you know, 58 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 3: I didn't dream off having a life like this and 59 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 3: all of this amazing opportunities, not because I didn't want to, 60 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 3: but as an eight year old girl born and raised 61 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 3: in Mexico City who fell in love with the sport 62 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 3: that the world used to say it wasn't for girls, 63 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 3: a very very American sport. You know, it just wasn't 64 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 3: on the on the map. I remember, you know, like 65 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 3: seeing all the oldest girls playing this sport and all 66 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 3: the women like before us that paved the way, but 67 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 3: somehow still feeling like we were out of the world, 68 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 3: you know, like we were intruders into a world that 69 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 3: we were not meant to be at it felt everything 70 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 3: is so small, so local, so between us. Yes, so yeah. 71 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 3: I never imagined that the sport could grow this fast 72 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 3: and this speak as it is right now some and 73 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 3: just like the all the amazing opportunities that are right now, 74 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 3: not only the Olympics, of course, it is like the 75 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 3: biggest thing we have right huge, but also you know, 76 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 3: like it's becoming an extension sport in many states in 77 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 3: the United States, scholars scholarships, not only the States, but 78 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 3: in Mexico. I was able to finish my professional career 79 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 3: thanks to a Flavoobleish scholarship, and I am about to 80 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 3: finish my master's thanks to a Flack footballer scholarship. 81 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: It's incredible you've done it. You've really done so much. 82 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: And I'll put everything in context. I for the listeners 83 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: and for those watching. I heard you speak at the 84 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine event Shine Away, and I was just so 85 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: captivated and so inspired by the way you carry yourself. 86 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 2: You are very smart, you are. 87 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: Very humble, you are very warm and kind, and you 88 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: have dedicated so much of your life to inspire other 89 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: people and make room for this sport worldwide. And I 90 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: mean you were sitting on stage with Alex Morgan, Candice Parker. 91 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 1: I mean, some of the most notable athletes out there, 92 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: and I couldn't stop thinking about your story and for 93 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: our listeners and everyone tuning in, I would love to 94 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: bring it back to the start. I want you to 95 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 1: bring me back to this eight year old. You always 96 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: say you started playing at eight and you were was it? 97 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: You were a ballerina before that, you were in ballet. 98 00:06:55,000 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, so before entering into the football world, I used 99 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 3: to do ballet and pretty much because my dad and 100 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 3: my mom was a dancer, so you know, she wanted 101 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 3: her little princess to go through that pad and and 102 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 3: try ballet and gymnastics, which was fun. But but I 103 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 3: think that ivan always that girl, you know, that willing 104 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 3: to make friends and and have fun and have some 105 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 3: action going on. I remember going to my ballet classes 106 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 3: and just getting with all my my friends and saying, okay, 107 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 3: let's let's play. Let's play something. Let's play you know, 108 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,559 Speaker 3: hide and see is how you call it. Let's play 109 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 3: you know, these kind of games, little games, and and 110 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 3: seeing all my friends like, what are you doing? We're 111 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 3: here for the for the dancing class, and and I 112 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 3: was really there for the for the game time. Suddenly, 113 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 3: one day my dad came home and one day he 114 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 3: brought me to a football field, and it was my 115 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 3: first time ever at a football field. I didn't know 116 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 3: anything about football. I didn't know what was going on, 117 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 3: but I remember just sitting in the stance with him 118 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 3: and watching to a group of girls or women i 119 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: must say, playing around. I just could see them running around, screaming, 120 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: having fun being them. And I feel that's what captured 121 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 3: me from the very first time about the sport, that 122 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 3: what I could see in those women was real, real passion, 123 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 3: real power. They were having the opportunity just to be 124 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 3: them like with no you know, restrictions, nobody judging their 125 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 3: nobody in saying, hey you must behave hey, sit down, yay, 126 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 3: you know, and that really excited me for the very 127 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 3: first time. I must say that at that moment, I 128 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 3: was eight, but those women were like older than me. 129 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 3: They were probably like sixteen, seventy seventeen and up. Because again, 130 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 3: at that moment in time, we didn't had a lot 131 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 3: of you know, categories or juth teams or many opportunities 132 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 3: to play the sport. So that's how it was and 133 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: I think when you really find your real love, you 134 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 3: know your real passion, noting else care. The Age didn't care. 135 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 3: I was so lucky to enter into a team that 136 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 3: really welcomed me with arms wide open, a coach that 137 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 3: trusted on me since the very first time. It wasn't 138 00:09:55,679 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 3: an impediment the age for him, and he really he 139 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 3: taught me and my teammates to how to approach the 140 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 3: world and embrace our power since the very first time. 141 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 3: A very interesting thing about my coach, his name is Julio. 142 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 3: I'm very grateful with him because I know that a 143 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 3: lot of who I am today as a woman, as 144 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 3: an athlete is thanks to him. Is that he used 145 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 3: to coach the college team tackle football at the same 146 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 3: time as coaching us. So he used to go with 147 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 3: a man and then with us at that moment. Imagine 148 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 3: we were a club. It was a football club. So 149 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 3: this club had an amazing football field, you know, natural grass, 150 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 3: nice stance, lighting on, amazing. But we were not allowed 151 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 3: to step on that football field just because we were 152 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 3: women playing around you know, I. 153 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 2: Know, it turns me crazy, I know. 154 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 3: So we used to practice at the backfield, which was 155 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 3: literally a dirt field. My coach used to ask us 156 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 3: every day before practice to bring trash backs, so we 157 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 3: used to spend the first ten minutes probably clinging around 158 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 3: the area so we could play, you know, from rocks 159 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 3: or trash or little you know, glass or things like that. 160 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 3: But you know, at that moment in time, I was 161 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 3: so young. For me, I couldn't see like the disadvantage there. 162 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 3: It was just the way it is. It is, Okay, 163 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 3: I need to do this for practice. I'll do it. 164 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 3: I don't care. I want to play. I cannot step there. 165 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 3: I don't understand why, but I don't care. I can 166 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 3: play here. And you know, I now, looking back, I 167 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 3: think that that inn is protected me a lot from 168 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 3: the world and from building like barriers on my mind. 169 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 3: That's why I feel that the way I was so 170 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 3: blessed on the way I started playing and with the 171 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 3: people I started playing with that coach, with those teammates, 172 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 3: with my parents, that really builds that you know, fears 173 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 3: mentality and this powerful and NonStop mentality that has helped 174 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 3: me to go through not only sports journey but life absolutely. 175 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: And I think you know, as women growing up in 176 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: a man's world, you're never enough, Nothing is ever enough. 177 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 1: You're too you know, small, you're too short, you're too slow. Uh, 178 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: you're to this, you're too that. No, you can't do that. 179 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: And you're hearing all these things that such a young age, 180 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: and a lot of our self worth gets so jaded 181 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: at such a young age because we're told and just 182 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 1: like you said, you use the word the innocence, the 183 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 1: purity of a young child, especially a young girl, just 184 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 1: wanting to go out and play and do what she loves. 185 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,439 Speaker 1: But everyone always has an opinion about it. 186 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,439 Speaker 2: How did you break through that? 187 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: What built you to have this character, to have this 188 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: drive to say, oh watch me, wow? 189 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 3: Well, I'm not gonna lie. It has been a long journey, 190 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 3: you know, a long process with a lot of ups 191 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 3: and downs. I think ironically, as you get older sometimes 192 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 3: it gets harder again because you start getting apart a 193 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 3: little bit of that innocence that I talk about before, 194 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 3: that purity, as you mentioned that, just connection with you 195 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 3: and what you love, and you start hearing more around you, 196 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 3: you know, like all the voices thinking about what other 197 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 3: people think on you and things like that. And I 198 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 3: think I went through that process too. I'm gonna go 199 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 3: back a little bit again to the roots to when 200 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 3: I started, because I think it really has shaped me 201 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 3: a lot. I mentioned already that if there were a 202 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 3: lot of things that I couldn't understand at that moment, 203 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 3: but just to see that even if other people around 204 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 3: me didn't understand what I was doing, my people, my family, 205 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 3: my support system, my coach, and my teammates, we were 206 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 3: living our own world. So that was enough for me. 207 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 3: And not only that, but I had people that really 208 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 3: trusted in me no matter what. Again, my parents, that coach, 209 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 3: not only me, but my teammates. Imagine when I was 210 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 3: ten years old, I remember my coach used to make 211 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 3: us play against the guys. So I was twelve years 212 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 3: old playing against college guys which were nineteen twenty years old, 213 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 3: a flat football match after practice. So for me, it 214 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 3: was like, Okay, this is weird, but we're gonna have one. 215 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 3: For him, it was something about breaking mental barriers, you know, 216 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 3: like why can't you play with man because they're gonna 217 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 3: hurt you. Why you're strong to you practice every day 218 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 3: for this. You are fast too. No, you're not gonna 219 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 3: go fight them because probably they are gonna be stronger 220 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 3: than you. It's normal, But what do you have to 221 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 3: approach that game on the field. What are you going 222 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 3: to do to make that touchdown? What are you going 223 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 3: to do to grab that flag? You know, like it 224 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 3: doesn't matter if he's taller or bigger or stronger. What 225 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 3: do you have? You can be faster, you can be smarter, 226 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 3: you can go one step ahead. And I think I 227 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 3: started learning like that mentality since I was little, not 228 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 3: trying to focus always on what I could do to 229 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 3: approach every situation, what I have on my hands to 230 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 3: approach life, instead of just looking on what's against me, 231 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 3: you know, like what do I have to fight for 232 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 3: instead of all the obstacles. Later on, when I turned fourteenth, 233 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 3: I started playing by first time with boys my age, 234 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 3: but in an all boys league, again being the only 235 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 3: girl because that was the only way, and going through 236 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 3: a different type of challenge, which was getting to understand 237 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 3: by first time or feeling that rejection not only from 238 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 3: my coaches but from my teammates too. I started to 239 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 3: see how society, you know, like shape people's mindsets, and 240 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 3: it was hard at the beginning just not to be 241 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 3: able to understand, like why, like why you don't like me? 242 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 3: Why like I'm nice to you? I love this sport 243 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 3: as much as you. I come here every day and 244 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 3: practice and and it was like a tough moment, but 245 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 3: at the end it has been one of the most 246 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 3: amazing processes I had. I've been able to live and 247 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 3: see like the change of mentality from my teammates and coaches. 248 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,439 Speaker 3: They went from you know, she's a girl, you know, 249 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 3: just keep it, keep her in the bench, just keep 250 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 3: her one two plays, Let's see what she can do. 251 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 3: I saw them going from she's a girl to Okay, 252 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,919 Speaker 3: this girl can play. Okay, how can this girl be 253 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 3: better than me? Okay, I'm gonna show her, like you know, 254 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 3: like this is our world that she can't to Okay, 255 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 3: she can play. Mm hmm okay, this is not just me. Okay, 256 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 3: to defending me. Then against all the you know teams 257 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,719 Speaker 3: there were all boys teams from the comps, you know, 258 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 3: like oh that girl make the catch, Oh that girl 259 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 3: make the touchdown. Remember my teammates saying, oh, yes, and 260 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 3: she's gonna score another touchdown to you because she's so good, 261 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 3: she's better than you. 262 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: You know, I'm laughing because I played with boys until 263 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: I was fifteen, So I'm having this experiences through your 264 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: lens and I'm laughing because. 265 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 2: I get it. 266 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 3: I get it, Yes, and that's I think that's the 267 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 3: power of sports. But more or further than that is 268 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 3: the power of how a common passion can unite people 269 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 3: through through hearts, you know, through something bigger. And I 270 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 3: think that experience may helped me to understand that sometimes 271 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 3: what we see has challenges from other people around us 272 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 3: or from the world. It's not necessarily because it's against us. 273 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:38,479 Speaker 3: You know. We sometimes tend to think that way, like Okay, 274 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 3: life doesn't want me to do this, or I have 275 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 3: a lot of No, it's not your fault. Sadly, there 276 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 3: are many situation situations where society people were shaped by 277 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 3: old manners, old thoughts, or paradigms, all these stereotypes. Yes, 278 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 3: it's not your fault, and it doesn't it has nothing 279 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 3: to do with you. So you have to do attached 280 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 3: from all of them and help people change that mindset, 281 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 3: how through just showing up every day, just showing up 282 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 3: what you have in common, rather than you know, all 283 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 3: those warriors that can probably be putting you away from 284 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 3: your goals or from the people around you. 285 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 2: Stay tuned. 286 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: I'll be back in just a moment after this brief 287 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: message from our sponsors. I name this podcast wide Open 288 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: because there comes a moment in sports. As you know 289 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 1: you're a quarterback, being wide open is really separating yourself 290 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: from the pack. 291 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 2: It's that one moment. 292 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: To execute, but it's also the ability to be wide 293 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 1: open off the field. It's the ability to be vulnerable, 294 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 1: to be truthful, to be authentic. What is the one 295 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: moment in your life that split you wide open, that 296 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: changed it all for you? 297 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 3: Well, I'm going to mention two moments. Like one the 298 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 3: moment I knew that I loved this sport, that this 299 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 3: was what I wanted to do no matter what, Like, 300 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 3: just decided to bet everything on this, even if we 301 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 3: didn't have like a future you know for this, you 302 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 3: know flavorable. Now it's not a professional sport yet, which 303 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 3: means I and my teammates we don't get paid for 304 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:40,719 Speaker 3: playing the sport or representing our country or anything. But 305 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 3: that didn't matter to me. I knew that this was 306 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 3: what I wanted to do. After the first time I 307 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 3: represented my country. You know that feeling of putting the 308 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 3: uniform on, hearing your national anthem, and knowing that you're 309 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 3: representing some something bigger than yourself and with this with 310 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 3: representing something bigger than myself. I think the other key 311 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 3: moment for me was actually after winning the gold medal 312 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 3: at the World Game twenty twenty two, not only because 313 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:22,879 Speaker 3: it was a moment that was a dream for me 314 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 3: and my teammates and that was a culmination of you know, 315 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 3: a lot of years of hard work, passion and love 316 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 3: for the game, but also we realized that what we 317 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 3: did at that moment was bigger than ourselves, was bigger 318 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 3: than the medal itself. It was bringing home the seat 319 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 3: of motivation, of inspiration, of hope to our young girls 320 00:22:55,160 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 3: back in our country, to our women, and to our people, 321 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 3: you know, to say, hey, we're able to do this 322 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 3: as a country. We're able to do great things. We 323 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 3: are gold dreams come true. That was the most powerful 324 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 3: message that we brought back home thanks to that gold medal, 325 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 3: and through that journey now I was able to find 326 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 3: not only a strongest passion for the game, but also 327 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 3: my life purpose, which is to rem to remind the 328 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 3: young generations of female leaders that we are powerful and 329 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 3: that we are capable to do anything we want in life. 330 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 3: And it was not for me when medals, it was 331 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 3: not for me winning championships or representing my country, which 332 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 3: is one of the biggest donors. It was to be 333 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 3: that role model that I wish I had when I 334 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 3: was young, as an eight year old girl, trying to 335 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 3: look up to someone who looked like me, who played 336 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 3: a sport I loved, who was speaking my language. I 337 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 3: couldn't find a lot, not only in sports, but in 338 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 3: other fields. And it is not because we haven't had 339 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 3: these role models and amazing women through history doing amazing things. 340 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 3: It's because we haven't heard their stories. They didn't have 341 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 3: the platforms. So I feel so blessed to have the 342 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 3: platform today to have the boys to be the boys 343 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,440 Speaker 3: for the ones that maybe you don't have it right now. 344 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: I follow you, and I've been following your career now 345 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: for quite some time, and I see how much you work, 346 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 1: and imagine if you know you could just dedicate your 347 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: time to your craft and be paid fairly for it, 348 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: because you know, and I don't know who you owe 349 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: this credit to, and you should owe it to yourself, 350 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: because you're a very smart, beautiful woman outside of the game, 351 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,439 Speaker 1: but you have more brand deals than most people have 352 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 1: in a lifetime already, and you're you know this this 353 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:38,640 Speaker 1: short amount of time and you've diversified, like you've really 354 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 1: your platform and your ability to earn a living and 355 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: a name and a brand is going to go far 356 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: beyond your playing career because you've done it right. 357 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 2: How did you figure that out? 358 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 3: Well? Forrisible, you know what, I've been so blessed to 359 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 3: have an amazing team around me in everything I've done, 360 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 3: like not only on the field, but also all the field, 361 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:14,200 Speaker 3: working alongside the NFL and IFAF to make flavorable an 362 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 3: Olympic sport. Just to be able to be part of 363 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 3: that process and navigate for the sport and push the 364 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:25,200 Speaker 3: sport forward. There were a lot of people also behind it. 365 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 3: When it comes to this new like era for me 366 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 3: trying to figure out okay, now what you know, I 367 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 3: have an amazing management team behind me, just more than 368 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 3: trying to figure out, you know, the next steps in 369 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 3: terms of Okay, how are you gonna cream that income? 370 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 3: You know is okay, what do you want to do? 371 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 3: What's your purpose and what's aligned with what you want 372 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 3: to do? And I think that has been the biggest 373 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 3: listening to be able to connect that purpose to many 374 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 3: other people's purposes. You know, because I've learned that somehow, 375 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 3: when you have a clear idea of what you want 376 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 3: in your mind, life is so amazing that brings people 377 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 3: to your life with the same probably same goal or 378 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:27,879 Speaker 3: the same emission or admission aligned to yours. And that 379 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 3: that is what has happened to me working with all 380 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 3: of these amazing runs and there are more gatoryd At 381 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 3: and t Toyota los Cabos and many more. It's because 382 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:50,439 Speaker 3: more than seeing it as a partnership only is okay, 383 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 3: how can I help you build your purpose as a brand, 384 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 3: which I've been so lucky to connect with their mission 385 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:09,879 Speaker 3: on okay, paving a better, frighter future for the girls 386 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 3: out there. That's my goal too, So let's make it 387 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 3: happen together. You know, I always say we are more 388 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 3: than what we do, which for me means I'm more 389 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 3: than a flavorable player. Yes, you know, I am more 390 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 3: than a professionist. We are more than that. So how 391 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 3: do I connect who I am to what I do? 392 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 3: And I'm not gonna lie. It's a it's a NonStop process, 393 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 3: non stop learning process. There are always new things coming, 394 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 3: new dreams, new people. But it's an exciting journey and 395 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 3: I think for me right now, the most important thing 396 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,959 Speaker 3: is just keep the main thing, the main thing. I 397 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 3: love that it is a sport. It is the purpose 398 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:02,959 Speaker 3: of building some theory bigger. 399 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 2: Okay, well I want you. 400 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: I love that you brought that up because this is 401 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 1: the whole point of this show. It's yeah, because I 402 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 1: think people when when people see us, they always see 403 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 1: us uh in our sport, in the limelight on the field. 404 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: They have no idea who we are off of it, 405 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 1: and we're never asked about it. Who are you off 406 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: the field? What do you love to do? What are 407 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 1: your hopes and dreams? What do you want to build? 408 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: And you're getting your master's in business? 409 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 3: Yes, so what's marketing and communication? And my master's is 410 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 3: done innovation for enterprise development. 411 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: So yeah, there you go. Tell me, tell me who 412 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: you tell all the listeners like, who are you. 413 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:48,959 Speaker 2: Off the field? What? What do you like to do? 414 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 2: What inspires you? What keeps you going? What is the why? 415 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 2: Outside of it? Do you find balance? 416 00:29:56,240 --> 00:30:01,479 Speaker 3: Hmmm? Okay? Who I am? Okay? I am an oldest 417 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 3: daughter of three brother and a sister. Three siblings. We 418 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 3: are so they are my biggest my biggest motivation. Love 419 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 3: that and my best friends. My brother is now in Germany, 420 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 3: my sister is living here with me. I share this 421 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 3: passion of sport with them. He is now with the 422 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 3: Sweden national team. So imagine, just to be able to 423 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 3: to be in this flappable world is one of the 424 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 3: biggest blessings. I love to play the piano. I started 425 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 3: playing the piano when I was probably ten, thanks to 426 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 3: my uncle. 427 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 2: Wow, what can't you do? At this point? 428 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 3: I do it as a hobie. I wish I had 429 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:54,000 Speaker 3: more time to you know, practice, but it is something 430 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 3: I like and really like relaxes me and and takes 431 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:03,480 Speaker 3: me back to you know, my my inner peace and 432 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 3: my sand zone. I love taking runs, Like every time 433 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 3: I go to a new city. I think it is 434 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 3: the best way to get to know a city. Just 435 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 3: go out, take around. You'll see not only the special 436 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 3: places around the city, but also get to see the 437 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 3: people around. And I love that and what motivates me. 438 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 3: I think since I was little, to be honest, I 439 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 3: change profession like so many times, Like I wanted to 440 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 3: be archaeologist when I was probably like twelve, and I 441 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 3: wanted to go to Egypt and all those you know, 442 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 3: like amazing adventures then and I figured out that it 443 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 3: was not all that profession didn't look like that all 444 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 3: the time. So I was like, Okay, no, then I 445 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 3: don't want to do it because I just want the 446 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:17,959 Speaker 3: one part. Then I wanted to study engineering, pharmaceutic engineering, 447 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 3: and I was like one step away to be on 448 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:29,040 Speaker 3: that journey. That's another reason why I really really believe 449 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 3: that we all have a purpose in life, and sometimes 450 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 3: life guide us. It is not like us, you know, 451 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 3: like taking all the decisions and that that's how it 452 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 3: was for me. Literally one week before starting to study 453 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 3: pharmaceutic engineering, I got an offer for this scholarship of 454 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 3: Black Poop or scholarship. I was one of the first 455 00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:00,360 Speaker 3: players to have this opportunity, and I didn't thought wise 456 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 3: because sport has been my biggest love always and I 457 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,719 Speaker 3: knew that it was gonna be the only way I 458 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 3: could manage to do both at the same time. So 459 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 3: that's how my life changed drastically, from engineering to business 460 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 3: and marketing. 461 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 2: I love that. 462 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:23,800 Speaker 1: I honestly I say that when a door opens, you 463 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 1: walk through it. Yeah, you just keep walking through the 464 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 1: doors that open, and you never know what life will 465 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 1: bring you. 466 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:31,719 Speaker 2: Is the truth. 467 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,560 Speaker 3: It is the truth. And that has been to be 468 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 3: honest one of the biggest lessons of my life since ever. 469 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 3: Like sometimes you may be afraid sometimes yeah we never know, 470 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 3: you know what it's gonna be ahead of us. But 471 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 3: if you have this conviction that's something biggest and waiting 472 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 3: for you right in the corner, that makes everything easier, 473 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:03,000 Speaker 3: like every decision, and sometimes it's just taking steps of 474 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 3: faith and to be honest. That's what I've done many 475 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 3: times in my life. And as you said, life always 476 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 3: surprise you if you just do your job, if you 477 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,319 Speaker 3: stay disciplined to your goals, if you do if you 478 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:25,560 Speaker 3: do the hard work, life surprise you with a brighter 479 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:30,439 Speaker 3: and bigger future that than quan do what you could 480 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 3: ever conceive. So that has been my journey, and yeah, 481 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 3: that's a little bit of who I am. What keeps 482 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:42,840 Speaker 3: me motivated, I think is to be able to bring 483 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 3: to build connections, to make a positive impact whatever I do. 484 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 3: Whenever I go on the field of the field and 485 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:59,799 Speaker 3: just I don't know, like keep keep pushing forward, being 486 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 3: part part of this movement of change and just getting 487 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 3: to see and connect with little girls all over the world. 488 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 3: I've been able to be not only in Mexico, with 489 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 3: the US in Europe in Morocco last year, bringing the 490 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:24,320 Speaker 3: sport to many young girls, and just to see the 491 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:30,840 Speaker 3: joy they have when they first catch up football. The passion, 492 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 3: the power, that's what motivates me to do almost everything 493 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:36,759 Speaker 3: I do. 494 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 1: This is wide open and I'm your host, Ashlyn Harris. 495 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:45,479 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening. We'll be right back. 496 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:53,439 Speaker 1: I'm a little jealous because I watch your content on 497 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:54,759 Speaker 1: your social channels and. 498 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 2: You are such a badass. 499 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 1: The way you move when you play like it is 500 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:02,719 Speaker 1: so fun to watch. I'm like, how do we not 501 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 1: have like a sanctioned professional league. 502 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 2: This is the most entertaining stuff to watch. 503 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:12,320 Speaker 1: I'm actually a little pissed because we didn't have flag 504 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:15,400 Speaker 1: football when I was growing up. Well, we played like 505 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:19,200 Speaker 1: school games. We used to have it at like recess. 506 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:24,240 Speaker 1: But I would have I would have loved flag football. 507 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:28,160 Speaker 1: I would have fucking lived and I would have been good. 508 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:29,760 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, I bet. 509 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:33,799 Speaker 1: That was like this should have been my sport. I'm like, 510 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:35,879 Speaker 1: so what do we need to do? 511 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:39,160 Speaker 2: What do we need? How what needs to happen? 512 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:42,439 Speaker 1: Because I mean, I only have a few more years 513 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 1: and I want to be a part of this league 514 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 1: so I can come out of retirement. No, but seriously, 515 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 1: how do we speak this into existence? What needs to happen? 516 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 3: Well, I think we're living a very special moment in time, 517 00:36:56,040 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 3: not only with the race of women sports, but also 518 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:06,160 Speaker 3: the race of flavorable worldwide. We already talked about the 519 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 3: upcoming Olympic Games and this this is definitely the time 520 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 3: to make it happen. I think that also a lot 521 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 3: of like more brands are looking into the sport as 522 00:37:19,719 --> 00:37:24,400 Speaker 3: the opportunity it is, you know, to not only connect 523 00:37:24,560 --> 00:37:30,360 Speaker 3: with new people, new fans, but also you know, start 524 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 3: making the will roll for everybody. I think one of 525 00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:43,400 Speaker 3: the biggest steps are already like happening slowly, which is, Okay, 526 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:48,960 Speaker 3: build safe places and platforms for the youth to develop 527 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:52,400 Speaker 3: in this sport. Okay, the NFL flatooraball is doing an 528 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 3: amazing job and other like local leagues to make that happen. 529 00:37:56,680 --> 00:38:01,040 Speaker 3: Introduce boys and girls. That's the first stage. Then, Okay, 530 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:09,960 Speaker 3: build opportunities, push to make flavorable extension sport wherever you 531 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:15,520 Speaker 3: are at, whatever your state is. It's all about asking 532 00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:20,040 Speaker 3: for the sport to be played in your nearest high school, 533 00:38:20,239 --> 00:38:26,160 Speaker 3: you know, making that interest get noticed, because that's the 534 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:30,080 Speaker 3: only way we're gonna make it happen. And as more 535 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:34,120 Speaker 3: sentiented states I'm talking in the United States, but also 536 00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:38,680 Speaker 3: here in Mexico and around the world, we get more opportunities. 537 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:42,120 Speaker 3: Boys and girls are going to have to keep developing 538 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:47,520 Speaker 3: their selves as athlete in this sport. Then scholarships, which 539 00:38:47,560 --> 00:38:51,279 Speaker 3: is already happening, and I've heard that probably it's gonna 540 00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 3: become an NCAA sanction sport soon. So that's gonna be 541 00:38:57,040 --> 00:39:02,160 Speaker 3: a huge thing and a change for sure for it 542 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:10,440 Speaker 3: female flavooable athletes out there. It's opportunities because sport is 543 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:13,720 Speaker 3: that it opens your doors not only to develop yourself 544 00:39:13,719 --> 00:39:15,840 Speaker 3: as an athlete on the field, but also to achieve 545 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:20,440 Speaker 3: your dreams off the field. And flavvootball is an amazing 546 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:26,600 Speaker 3: tool to make that happen. And next step to have 547 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:30,960 Speaker 3: this professional flat football league. The interest is there, Oh god, yeah, 548 00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:35,120 Speaker 3: everybody sees the opportunity. It's a huge opportunity. I think 549 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:38,319 Speaker 3: right now it's a matter of Okay, how how do 550 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:41,320 Speaker 3: we make it sustainable? How do we make it real? 551 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 3: How do we make it? Yeah, sustainable in time? We 552 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:48,000 Speaker 3: don't want this for a year or two, or for 553 00:39:48,120 --> 00:39:50,520 Speaker 3: here to the Olympics. We want this to say for 554 00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:57,600 Speaker 3: years and years for the future generations to come. So 555 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 3: I think a lot of this comes with also giving 556 00:40:03,440 --> 00:40:07,759 Speaker 3: the platform to the athletes to tell their stories, to 557 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:14,480 Speaker 3: connect with the people, to just start building that community, 558 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:18,480 Speaker 3: because that's the way interesting the sport will grow, and 559 00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:22,839 Speaker 3: that's the way we are going to make this profitable, 560 00:40:24,760 --> 00:40:27,560 Speaker 3: to make it sustainable for the next years. 561 00:40:27,719 --> 00:40:32,399 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And what's next for you? Like what tell Tell 562 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:35,319 Speaker 1: everyone what's next? Tell everyone how to find you? 563 00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:42,560 Speaker 3: What's next for me? Well, already training with the national 564 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:46,319 Speaker 3: team to make it to the World Games this year 565 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:50,439 Speaker 3: in China. We have World Games in August, we have 566 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:55,120 Speaker 3: Continental Championship, which is qualifier for World Cup next year. 567 00:40:56,360 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 3: And next year is when the Olympic Journey starts, qualifications 568 00:41:01,160 --> 00:41:05,279 Speaker 3: for the Olympics in twenty eight. That's, of course one 569 00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:09,000 Speaker 3: of my biggest dreams. I really want to be there. 570 00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:12,600 Speaker 3: I'm already working for it to make it happen, So 571 00:41:13,320 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 3: on that side, that's the goal right now, on the 572 00:41:19,160 --> 00:41:24,239 Speaker 3: professional side or off the field, just being able to 573 00:41:24,320 --> 00:41:30,600 Speaker 3: keep working with all my partners and friends in different projects, 574 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:35,680 Speaker 3: to keep pushing the sport forward in Mexico. Last year 575 00:41:35,719 --> 00:41:39,680 Speaker 3: we had the biggest flaff football camp all women in 576 00:41:39,719 --> 00:41:44,160 Speaker 3: Mexico City. We had more than one hundred girls were 577 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:48,200 Speaker 3: needed to learn and play flag football. It was amazing. 578 00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:51,120 Speaker 3: So the goal is to keep making it happen year 579 00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:56,160 Speaker 3: after year, keep doing it in the States. Of course, 580 00:41:57,120 --> 00:41:59,840 Speaker 3: I'm working with a dear friend, Vivis Chapter, which is 581 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:06,600 Speaker 3: former NFL coach and national team from Great Britain, and 582 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:10,239 Speaker 3: putting a series of camps in Europe this year, so 583 00:42:10,560 --> 00:42:13,880 Speaker 3: to to keep helping and push the sport forward in 584 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:17,800 Speaker 3: that part of the globe too. And that's what excites 585 00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:19,840 Speaker 3: me right now, just to be able to share this 586 00:42:19,960 --> 00:42:23,040 Speaker 3: love and passion for the game and keep building opportunities 587 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:27,680 Speaker 3: whatever that means, you know, on off the field. With 588 00:42:28,920 --> 00:42:35,240 Speaker 3: all the capacities I have, I think that's my main 589 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:37,600 Speaker 3: goal right now for the next years to come. 590 00:42:38,080 --> 00:42:39,799 Speaker 2: Well, we are all rooting for you. 591 00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:43,400 Speaker 1: We are in your corner, So thank you so much 592 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:49,160 Speaker 1: for your time and dedication to your craft. But most 593 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:53,719 Speaker 1: importantly for this younger generation who is going to grow 594 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:56,839 Speaker 1: up want in your name on the back of their jersey. 595 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:00,399 Speaker 1: You're so humble and kind and sweet, and you give 596 00:43:00,440 --> 00:43:02,879 Speaker 1: credit to everyone else, and I want to give that 597 00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:05,600 Speaker 1: credit back to you, because this sport wouldn't be what 598 00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:07,560 Speaker 1: it is without you, and you should know that, and 599 00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:09,040 Speaker 1: I hope you do know that. 600 00:43:10,320 --> 00:43:13,640 Speaker 3: Thank you. Thank you so much. And I have to 601 00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:21,040 Speaker 3: say that I have a huge respect and admiration for 602 00:43:21,120 --> 00:43:26,600 Speaker 3: you too. Thank you because I mentioned that when I 603 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:30,360 Speaker 3: was growing up, I didn't have this role model to 604 00:43:30,440 --> 00:43:34,080 Speaker 3: follow that played my sport, that looked like me, that 605 00:43:34,160 --> 00:43:40,200 Speaker 3: spoke my language. But I found that motivation and inspiration 606 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:43,520 Speaker 3: in women like you. Thank you, like you and your 607 00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:48,360 Speaker 3: teammates and your journeys and everything you did for the 608 00:43:48,440 --> 00:43:54,480 Speaker 3: sport and for women on and off the field. And 609 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:56,880 Speaker 3: I think that's one of the biggest blessings that we 610 00:43:56,960 --> 00:44:01,600 Speaker 3: all have as human beingsnesses to know that or be 611 00:44:01,719 --> 00:44:06,080 Speaker 3: conscious that everything we do, even if we don't realize 612 00:44:06,120 --> 00:44:09,640 Speaker 3: it at the moment, will always have a bigger impact 613 00:44:09,719 --> 00:44:10,560 Speaker 3: on ourselves. 614 00:44:10,760 --> 00:44:13,600 Speaker 1: I'm receiving that, so thank you so much, and thank 615 00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:18,600 Speaker 1: you for your time. Everyone another episode of Wide Open 616 00:44:19,440 --> 00:44:22,960 Speaker 1: with Leanna Flores. Thank you so much for taking the time. 617 00:44:23,480 --> 00:44:25,600 Speaker 1: We are all going to be following you. Tell everyone 618 00:44:25,680 --> 00:44:28,080 Speaker 1: where they can find you on your social channels. 619 00:44:28,640 --> 00:44:35,720 Speaker 3: Oh yes, so in Instagram like Dianna Flores thirty three, 620 00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:42,680 Speaker 3: happy to just build community there to join my journey 621 00:44:42,760 --> 00:44:47,160 Speaker 3: in flat football journey around the world. TikTok same username. 622 00:44:47,360 --> 00:44:50,600 Speaker 3: Great and yeah, happy to connect with you all there. 623 00:44:51,320 --> 00:44:53,879 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for coming on and good luck 624 00:44:53,920 --> 00:44:58,160 Speaker 1: with everything. And if you ever need anything, I'm always 625 00:44:58,520 --> 00:45:00,879 Speaker 1: in your corner. I'm a phone call in any way 626 00:45:00,920 --> 00:45:04,880 Speaker 1: I can help push this forward, get a league started 627 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:08,000 Speaker 1: for you have some type of investment. I am here 628 00:45:08,040 --> 00:45:11,239 Speaker 1: because i really believe in what you're doing and I'm 629 00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:14,320 Speaker 1: grateful for the work you do in women's sports. So 630 00:45:14,360 --> 00:45:17,640 Speaker 1: thank you so much and we'll see you soon. 631 00:45:18,520 --> 00:45:20,680 Speaker 3: Thank you. I'm sending you up bihook. 632 00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:26,640 Speaker 2: Yes ah, I'll see you soon. I can't wait see 633 00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:27,080 Speaker 2: you soon. 634 00:45:34,120 --> 00:45:38,040 Speaker 1: Wide Open with Ashland Harris is an iHeart women's sports production. 635 00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:42,200 Speaker 1: You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 636 00:45:42,480 --> 00:45:46,440 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts. Our producers are Carmen 637 00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:52,360 Speaker 1: Borca Correo, Emily Maronov, and Lucy Jones. Production assistants from 638 00:45:52,719 --> 00:45:58,240 Speaker 1: Malia Aguidello. Our executive producers are Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan 639 00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:02,640 Speaker 1: and Emily Rudder are editors are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder, 640 00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:11,080 Speaker 1: And I'm your host, Ashlyn Harris.