Mexico wide receiver Victoria Chavez has been nominated as The World Games Athlete of the Year and fans of flag football will soon be able to start voting for her to win the annual award.
The sight of Chavez making the gold medal winning catch at The World Games as time expired is the most enduring highlight of the flag football tournament.
Unbridled joy, a moment of disbelief and tears of happiness all overwhelmed the Mexico star as she claimed victory on literally the last play of an epic victory over rival the United States as time expired in Chengdu. Hollywood couldn’t have scripted a better ending.
The first round of The World Games Athlete of the Year voting begins on Monday, January 12 with the leading vote getters moving on to a second round of voting on January 26.
The 24-year-old native of Chihuahua got free in the end zone and held her nerve to catch a lofted pass by quarterback Diana Flores, completing a thrilling comeback. The play of the tournament also celebrated a personal milestone for Chavez, who had battled back from injury to become a key member of the Mexico squad.
“In that moment when I caught the ball, I thought of my family and my knee injury from two years ago and I was super-happy,” said Chavez. “There are still no words to describe how I felt. It was incredible.”
Mexico had gone behind by a point to the Americans – a team that had beaten them in the previous world and continental championship finals – with 28 seconds remaining in the game. Mexico drove downfield to set up the winner-takes-all dramatic finale. The clock showed only three seconds to play before Chavez leaped high and came down with the ball for the decisive touchdown to ensure Mexico successfully defended its precious title at The World Games.
Chavez ended the tournament as she had begun, her first contribution having been a touchdown catch in an opening game win over Japan that was Mexico’s maiden score of the competition. Chavez was consistently a tall receiving threat whenever Mexico lined up within striking distance of the end zone.
Her performances in Chengdu also helped propel Mexico to the top of the IFAF Flag Football World Rankings, claiming the sport’s number one spot for the first time.
Remember to vote for Victoria Chavez here from January 12.
