A moment that is worth more than any medal
The tears couldn’t hold back. Arly Velásquez, the great reference of Mexican Paralympic sport, received the national flag at the flag ceremony heading to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
With his heart full, the adapted alpine skier will be the only tricolor representative in that competition. It will be his fifth Olympic participation. A commitment to Mexico that has been going on for almost two decades.
The moment became magical when, as he raised the national flag, his gaze met that of his family in the front row. That’s where it all started.
“Receiving the flag towards my fifth Paralympic Games is a profound honor. I have been defending the sports project for 17 years that often depends on self-managed trips by people who believe in me,” said Velásquez with an emotional voice.
And he finished with a truth that all athletes know: “All this is a consequence of discipline, thanks to the people who have given their knowledge and believed in me.”
The support of an elite colleague
After his words, Rommel Pacheco took the microphone. The Olympic diver dedicated a message full of respect and admiration to him.
“You have been to the Paralympic Games for five years, we cannot say that you are a rookie. You have all the experience in the world and you know what it means to have the weight of the flag,” Pacheco told him.
His wish was clear and forceful: “I can only wish you the greatest success in your competition, that you continue writing history and carrying the flag of Mexico at the highest level.”
Now, Arly directs all his efforts towards Italy. With the flag on his shoulders and an entire nation behind him, ready to teach another lesson in resilience on the snow.
