From Political Science to the world whistle: the field that screams equality
Imagine this: you study Political Science at UNAM, you graduate, and years later, the faculty renames a sports field with your name. No, it is not the script of a Netflix motivational movie, it is the real life of Katia Itzel García, the referee who is breaking stereotypes and goals (literally).
The FCPyS, in an act that mixes architectural glow-up and poetic justice, renovated its multi-sports field and named it after this graduate who, between whistles and yellow cards, became a candidate for the 2026 World Cup. The message? That at the university not only politicians are trained, but also elite whistlers.
Court 2.0: harder than the political theory exam
According to the DGDU, this space is not just any “patch the floor and pray.” It has three layers of sports technology (asphalt, vinyl paint and resin with sand), new nets and even cyclonic meshes so that the balls do not end up in the cafeteria. Basically, the upgrade that students deserve after surviving an online semester.
Katia, who in 2024 won the National Sports Award and refereed the match for bronze in Paris 2024, confessed with a laugh: “When I was studying here, I never imagined this.”. Of course, because between tasks and games, the last thing you think is that your name will end up on a sign next to a badminton court (yes, badminton, that sport we all played once in high school).
But beyond the recognition, her speech was a sports mic drop: “Refereeing has not been easy, but more and more doors are open for women.” In other words, Katia not only whistles for fouls, she also whistles for the structural machismo of the sport. *Slow clap applause*.
Moral? That at UNAM not only brilliant minds are formed, but also icons that change the game (and to whom they later put their name in large letters). And if you are as excited as we are, don’t forget to share this note and continue exploring how university sports are breaking the mold. #PasalaLikeKatia
Do you want more stories of women who are breaking it all? Click on our women’s sports special. Spoiler: they don’t have a court named after them… yet.
