Exclusive: Donovan Carrillo prepares for second Olympic journey as figure skating ambassador

In the latest installment of the Talk Sports series, Mexico's most accomplished figure skater Donovan Carrillo sat down for an insightful conversation with Zhu Mandan about his upcoming participation in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Carrillo, who made history as the country's first figure skater to compete at the Winter Games in three decades during the 2022 Beijing Olympics, reflected on his remarkable journey and the road ahead.

Securing his Olympic spot at the ISU Qualifying event last September, Carrillo described Beijing as a "second home." His debut there was transformative, igniting a passion for Olympic competition that he is now eager to pursue again. At 26, he felt more prepared than ever, attributing his growth to a recent move to Canada for training, which had honed his skills and increased his competitive edge.

In addition to his athletic endeavors, Carrillo is devoted to promoting figure skating in Mexico following his Olympic success. He is introducing new figure skating programs aimed at nurturing talent and enthusiasm for the sport back home. Carrillo also noted that figure skating allows athletes to be themselves, highlighting the uniqueness of the discipline compared to other competitive sports.