Mexican Flag Football Star Named World Games Athlete of Year

A last-second touchdown catch just became a career-defining moment for a young Mexican athlete who turned a comeback into global recognition.

Victoria Chávez, a 24-year-old wide receiver from Chihuahua, captured the 2025 World Games Athlete of the Year award after receiving 50,537 votes in an international fan poll. She beat out competitors from around the world, including a German ballroom dance team and fellow Mexican Laura Burgos, a muay thai gold medalist.

The win came months after Chávez made the game-winning catch that gave Mexico's women's flag football team their second consecutive World Games gold medal. Playing in Chengdu, China last August, she caught a touchdown pass as time expired to beat the United States 26-21.

What makes the victory sweeter is the journey. Chávez recently returned from a serious knee injury that could have ended her career. Instead, she came back stronger and helped cement Mexico's position as the world's top-ranked women's flag football team.

Mexico now has three women dominating their sports on the global stage. Just months before Chávez's award, soccer player Lizbeth Ovalle won FIFA's Marta Award for scoring the best women's goal of the year with a spectacular scorpion kick. The country also placed three athletes among the 30 World Games nominees for the first time ever.

The Ripple Effect

The timing couldn't be better for Mexico's flag football program. With the sport making its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, Mexico's women enter as favorites to win gold. They're currently ranked ahead of both the United States and Great Britain, and they've already proven they can beat Team USA when the pressure is highest.

President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated the team's gold medal victory the day after it happened. Mexico's sports authority is now focusing heavily on flag football development over the next two years, recognizing the historic opportunity ahead.

For Chávez, the recognition feels surreal. "It's a dream come true for me," she told Mexico's National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport. "Experiencing all of this with my team surpasses any dream I could have imagined."

A young athlete who refused to let injury end her story is now leading her team toward Olympic glory.