Football-Women's flag competitors see rapid growth as sport returns to World Games
Mexico captain Diana Flores, who led her country to the inaugural flag football gold at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, hopes to retain that title at a pivotal moment for the sport.
"It has been amazing to see the growth of flag football in the past, not only three years, but in the past five years, just the amount of opportunities that the sport is opening now for the next generations is insane," Flores, a pioneer in the sport, told reporters.
Eight women's teams will face off in the four-day tournament, offering a glimpse of what fans might expect when the sport joins the Olympic programme for the first time at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Mexico's win three years ago in Birmingham reflected the global nature of the sport, a non-tackle version of the gridiron game long associated with the United States' NFL that has developed a formidable pool of international talent.
"Many people who didn't know about the sport maybe started to pay attention to this, started to be part of the movement, and started to be interested about it, and that alone helped the sport grow," said Flores.
The women's game got the benefit of the Super Bowl spotlight in New Orleans this year, as the NFL ramps up its promotion in an effort to attract the next generation into the sport.
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"In the years since Birmingham has happened, from then to now, (it) has just spiraled in so many opportunities on and off the field," said Vanita Krouch, a 44-year-old U.S. quarterback who will take the field again after helping the Americans to silver in 2022.
"We're all chasing the same dream right now." REUTERS
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CNA
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IOC says Ng Ser Miang conformed with rules amid allegation of mixing 'his many positions with family business'
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Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox John Morgan competing in the 200m individual medley event at the World Aquatics Masters Championships on Aug 11. SINGAPORE – Veteran swimmer John Morgan is the proud winner of 13 Paralympic gold medals, and the 63-year-old has a place in the United States Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame. While his peers have hung up their swimming trunks and goggles, the sexagenarian's – who is competing at the July 26-Aug 22 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore – competitive spirit continues to burn brightly. The flame was first lit in his childhood – growing up by the ocean in Southern California, swimming was as much about survival as it was about sport. By eight, he was racing competitively, inspired by local heroes such as Olympic champions Shirley Babashoff and Danish marathon swimmer Greta Andersen. But a freak accident in his teens almost ended his budding swimming career. During a workout with stretching bands, the equipment snapped and the metal springs struck him in the eyes, detaching his retinas. The injury eventually led to blindness. 'When that happened, I couldn't swim immediately, and actually for two years, I was in surgeries, and it was very difficult,' said Morgan, who competed in five events at the championships. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Bukit Merah fire: Residents relocated as town council carries out restoration works Singapore askST: What to do in the event of a fire at home Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore askST: What are the fire safety rules for PMDs? Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at wrong airport in South Korea Opinion Could telco consolidation spell the end of attractive mobile plans? Singapore Change in law proposed to pave the way for public-private sector data sharing Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength 'I kind of thought that swimming would no longer be a part of my life so that was a very difficult thing to accept.' His despondence turned to hope when he discovered that there were blind swimmers, which reignited his ambitions. He said: 'It brought me back to something that I enjoyed doing, and it made me feel like I could accomplish things that were very difficult for a blind person... I could swim again and I felt like I could still do it fairly well. 'That encouraged me to do other things – I went back to school and I started studying, and I got encouragement because I was meeting other blind people who were doing things that for a while I thought were impossible, and so it was a big part of my recovery.' Morgan made his Paralympic bow in 1984 – when it was known as the International Games for the Disabled – and won five events. At Barcelona 1992, he finished on the podium for all 10 events, winning eight golds and two silvers. In addition to his 15 medals at the Games, he also set 14 world records throughout his career. John Morgan competing in the 200m backstroke event at the World Aquatics Masters Championships on Aug 8. PHOTO: SINGAPORE 2025 Morgan has continued to challenge himself by running marathons and completing in Ironman triathlons and the gruelling gran fondo cycling events – which are long-distance road cycling rides – and even climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Swimming remains a constant. In Singapore, he made his second appearance at the World Aquatics Masters Championships after his debut at the 2023 edition in Fukuoka. He said: 'Swimming for me is almost like anybody else brushes their teeth, or it's a habit that I have, that I do every day, and so it's not even a question and competing like this motivates me. 'It makes things more interesting for workouts that I do every day, but also meeting new people and actually meeting people that I've known for years.' Beyond fuelling his competitive spirit, swimming also shaped Morgan's personal life – it was through the sport that he met his wife Carmit Romano-Hvid. Danish swimmer Carmit Romano-Hvid (left) and her husband and fellow swimmer John Morgan, a 13-time gold medallist at the Paralympics, are both taking part in the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore. ST PHOTO: KIMBERLY KWEK At a reception during a conference in 1999, Dane Romano-Hvid noticed his swimmer's posture and struck up a conversation. They became friends, later dated and got married eight years ago. Romano-Hvid, who swam in high school and at her university club, has been instrumental in Morgan's Masters career. Now living in Denmark, the retired couple train and travel to meets around the world together. 'The fact that we share this hobby, and that it means so much to us, and we understand each other, we talk about the races before and after,' said Romano-Hvid, 68. 'And one important thing for John, since he's with me, he can go to all these meets, because before he met me, it wasn't easy for him to get around. I'm also very good at using the computer to find cheap flights and good hotels.' Danish swimmer Carmit Romano-Hvid competing in the 50m butterfly (65-69 age category) at the World Aquatics Masters Championships on Aug 10. ST PHOTO: KIMBERLY KWEK Swimming is a shared obsession and they keep up with the latest records and news in both Masters and elite swimming. The couple even plan their meals with competitions in mind, discussing what to eat before a race and shopping together to make sure they have the right nutrition. In Singapore, the pair closely tracked each other's swims throughout the day. They did not finish on the podium. 'It's something we have in common that makes us happy and gives us something to look forward to,' said Morgan. 'We get excited about the planning and training. She's very patient with me, getting me here and there, making sure I'm healthy so we take care of each other.'
