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Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Salt Athletic Debuts First Short Film, What We Carry, Highlighting Ultimate Frisbee Athlete Yina Cartagena's Story
Colorado Springs, CO - June 05, 2025 - Salt Athletic, a sports technology company, has released its first-ever short film titled What We Carry. This five-minute documentary-style piece offers an intimate look into the life of Yina Paola Cartagena, a professional ultimate frisbee player originally from Medellín, Colombia, whose journey through sports is helping redefine representation and belonging on the international stage. Directed by Kelly McKay, a collegiate soccer captain turned filmmaker, What We Carry captures Cartagena's growth from being the only girl on her first team in Colombia to becoming one of the top players in the sport. Today, she plays for the Colombia National Team, Revolution Ultimate, and serves as the co-captain of New York Gridlock. In 2024, she was named first runner-up in Ultiworld's Offensive Player of the Year Awards and recognized as one of the Top 10 Women's Club Players. 'Yina's story is one of resilience, identity, and leadership,' said McKay. 'She represents the kind of athlete who leads without asking permission, someone who carries both the weight of her own dreams and the expectation of communities who see themselves in her.' McKay's direction brings a unique perspective to the storytelling, capturing both the internal and external elements that shaped Cartagena's journey. 'This film is more than a player or a sport,' added McKay. 'It's about claiming space, creating community, and reimagining what success looks like when the odds aren't in your favor.' The short film is a narrative that speaks to the broader theme of ambition, inclusion, and legacy in modern sports. Through Cartagena's lens, What We Carry explores what it means to show up, stand out, and lead in spaces where few have gone before. It resonates across women's sports, team dynamics, and the broader experience of athletes who often compete without the infrastructure, recognition, or support systems common in other sports. 'We're passionate about athletes and the lives they lead,' said Rafael de la Vega, the CEO of Salt Athletic. 'Our products exist to support athletic lifestyles, but this project goes deeper. Yina's story represents the kind of determination and impact that mirrors why we started Salt Athletic in the first place: to make the athletic lifestyle more sustainable, supported, and seen.' As a company founded by athletes for athletes, Salt Athletic continues to evolve its mission to not only provide quality gear but also to amplify the stories of individuals changing the culture of sport. The short film is available on both Instagram and YouTube. To learn more about Salt Athletic, please visit About Salt Athletic Salt Athletic is a sports technology company developing performance-driven athletic cleat bags and apparel designed to meet the demands of active lifestyles. Founded by athletes, the company integrates silver and carbon-based odor control technology into its products, combining innovative design with practical function to support cleaner, smarter gear for everyday sport. Socials: @ Media Contact Company Name: Salt Athletic Contact Person: Micaela de la Vega Email: Send Email Phone: (918) 630-7051 Country: United States Website:
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Quad Cities environmentalists push back on proposed development
Kelly McKay has spent more than 40 years researching and monitoring eagles. One of his favorite spots to watch eagles in the Quad Cities is the Milan Bottoms. 'It's by far and away the most important piece of bald eagle habitat in this region, certainly on the upper Mississippi River,' McKay said. 'Periodically you'll see them carrying sticks and carrying sticks to the nest.' The Milan Bottoms stretches 3,500 acres, and is full of trees and is a favorite spot for eagles who gather in the winter. A part of what makes the Milan Bottoms so attractive to eagles is the food — fish, which includes several types on the Illinois state list of endangered species — that can be found in the water. However, bald eagles might need to find a new place to gather if a proposed cannabis dispensary, retail space, and truck stop are built adjacent to the Milan Bottoms. 'Truck stops, you know, they are 24 hours a day, trucks coming and going, a lot of noise,' Kelly said. 'They're lit up like bright Christmas trees.' Kelly added that the noise and light would alter a bald eagle's night roost area, especially during the winter. '[Night roosts] have to be secluded from a lot of human activity and development. If the birds are constantly being disturbed and disrupted during the night, their agitation levels are rising, they are burning calories, and they're wasting calories,' Kelly said. Kelly and other local environmentalists argue the proposed development could create an economic problem for the area. 'We know Bald Eagle Days here in the Quad Cites brings in enormous numbers of people, and there's always large attendance,' Kelly said. 'Large attendance equals dollars and these are people from outside the Quad Cities coming into the Quad Cities.' In response, the city of Rock Island issued a statement: 'The 10 acres that are being developed are not wetlands and are not in the floodplain. The letter from the Sierra Club Eagle View Group raises some issues that are too early in the project to address.' Rock Island mayor Mike Thoms and city manager Todd Thompson plan to listen to the Sierra Club Eagle View Group's views as soon as they can schedule a said he welcomes the meeting. 'I don't think you have to sacrifice the most important site for bald eagles on the upper Mississippi River to put a truck stop at this specific location,' Kelly said. 'I think there are some alternatives, and that's what we would like to discuss with the city and the developer.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
