He’s gone from practicing at a shopping center’s ice rink to the Beijing Olympic stage.
This is Donovan Carrillo. He is a 22-year-old Olympic skater who — on top of being Mexico’s first Olympic figure skater in 30 years — just made history by becoming the first Mexican figure skater to advance and qualify for the free skate at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
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According to AP News, this makes Carrillo “the most successful Mexican figure skater in history.”
He’s become a beacon of pride for those who watch him pursue his dream on the Olympic stage, so just in case you want to learn more, here are 15 facts worth knowing about him:
1.
He was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
2.
His parents have always been big sports fan and named him after Jamaican Canadian sprinter and Olympian Donovan Bailey.
Al Tielemans / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
3.
Prior to pursuing ice skating, Donovan was already very athletic and active as a child. He was in both gymnastics and diving and was already used to doing somersaults, backflips, etc.
Soccer is the sport of choice in Guadalajara, and despite being a big fan of it, Donovan told Latinus that he was never very good at playing it. He was, however, a big Atlas F.C. fan growing up.
4.
While his sister, Dafne, was an ice skater first, he showed interest in doing the same when he “fell in love” with a girl who he’d met when he’d go with his parents to pick up and drop off his sister from practice.
His dad, Adolfo Carrillo, told the Olympics YouTube channel, “I asked him, ‘Why do you want to skate if Dafne’s already involved in that?’ And he said, ‘Because there’s a girl there that I like. Lisa’s there.'” He eventually fell in love with the sport itself.
5.
His coach of 15 years, Gregorio Núñez, first noticed Donovan’s athletic ability and coordination given Donovan had already participated in other individual sports, but notes his charisma as something that is unique to him.
6.
He was just 9 years old when he decided to dedicate his time and energy to figure skating alone.
He told Proceso, “The day I ice skated for the first time, I felt like I found a place where I belong — where I can express myself and feel free.”
Anne-christine Poujoulat / AFP via Getty Images
7.
Growing up, Carrillo had to fight the toxic machismo and bullying that deters many boys from pursuing artistic sports such as figure skating.
He told AP News, “Sometimes people think that the artistic sports are only for women, so that’s something I had to fight when I was a kid because many people at school told me ‘Oh you’re a girl,’ and they sometimes even think that to practice an artistic sport, it’s going to affect your (sexual) preferences as a person. I never thought that.”
Joosep Martinson – International / International Skating Union via Getty Images
His parents have helped him overcome that by saying, “As long as you like it and you know who you are, it shouldn’t affect you. If you are gay, we’ll support you. You shouldn’t feel less than or different.”
8.
For the first four years that Donovan skated, he used his sister’s ice skates, since the family didn’t have money for a new pair. They also fit him too big. The pair of skates were later stolen, forcing his parents to shell out thousands of pesos for new ones, and Donovan said they’re his greatest treasure.
9.
In 2013, he had to move over 100 miles away from home to León, Guanajuato, Mexico with his coach because Guadalajara’s rink that had the appropriate dimensions closed down. He also began competing that same year. His coach told the Olympics YouTube channel, “It’s my duty to be his coach, but at the same time I’ve had to be someone he can look up to. So I really became like a tutor and stand-in parent, no?”
Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
Donovan, who was just 13 years old when he made the move, said, “Truth be told, when I left home to start this journey, it was very hard for both my parents and me. We suffered a lot due to this seperation. And although we tried to stay in contact via phone, video chat, it’s not like being present there.”
10.
Since ice skating is not a popular sport in Mexico, Donovan has had to practice in a shopping center’s ice rink in León.
And no, the rink is not shut down for him to use alone. He had to train around every other ice rink patron. He told the Olympics YouTube channel, “I’ve had to train on ice that’s below the normal standard found in international championships.”
Atsushi Tomura – International S / International Skating Union via Getty Images
Because of this, he’s also had to adjust his routines to bigger rinks when he goes off to compete, which comes with its own set of challenges.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP via Getty Images
11.
Donovan makes it a point to celebrate and integrate his Mexican culture into his routines by performing to music by artists such as Juan Gabriel and Carlos Rivera. He has also previously worn a charro outfit and incorporated Mexican danzónes into his routines while competing in an elegant suit-like outfit.
Linnea Rheborg / International Skating Union via Getty Images
12.
The gold and black outfit Donovan wore for the men’s short program in Beijing was designed by Guadalajara-born fashion designer Edgar Lozzano. Edgar told Vogue Mexico that he created an outfit that specifically reflects Donovan’s personality and essence.
Aleksandra Szmigiel / Reuters
13.
When asked by Cafecito con Masha how he would describe himself in one word, he said, “perseverante,” which is “persevering” in Spanish. He said that both persevering and dedication have taken him as far as he’s come.
14.
Finally, Donovan hopes to be an inspiration for other future Mexican figure skaters. He told Olympics.com, “I also hope during these Games, more boys and girls from my country will be inspired and find my story as a motivation for them to look for their dreams, dare to try figure skating because maybe they can find their passion in it as I found it,” he said.
15.
And just for a bonus fun fact: According to his mom, one of his favorite dishes is a torta ahogada, which is a torta drowned in a red salsa.
As a fellow Mexican myself, all I can say is: We’re rooting for you, Donovan! You’ve already made your country and those with roots within it so incredibly proud.
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/pablovaldivia/donovan-carrillo-mexico-olympic-figure-skater