Las Diablas: doctors, engineers, teachers and World Cup winners

The final photo is beautiful. Suffering a little and then unleashing the madness of the most immense joy that a high-performance athlete can feel makes it special.

They say that if it costs a lot, it’s worth double. I know Las Diablas. It’s not about double. What they do is from another galaxy. It’s worth more. A lot more.

For years Chile has been trying to establish itself at the top of the continent to reach the highest competitions. The first time he achieved it was in 2022. Epic. The Copa América was in Santiago and the Chilean team got that ticket to the World Cup for the first time with the help (and soul) of Claudia Schüler. They needed to win the semi-final of the tournament to secure their goal. They tied with the United States – in fact the United States tied them at the end – and went to penalties. Schüler became a giant, and they beat their rival 2 to 0 in the shoot-outs. The same result occurred this Saturday, March 7, in the stadium named after the goalkeeper of miracles who died on March 27, 2023 at the age of 35. His departure had a profound impact on all of Chilean hockey and marked this group of Diablas forever. The motivation became increasingly intense. There was a personal purpose, a collective one and another that was “for Chuchu.”

Four years passed since those unforgettable saves in Country. The final photo may be similar. Now with an aura that illuminates from above, from the side, from all sides. But the road is still the back of that photo. This team makes professional life and high performance coexist.

They are doctors, kinesiologists, engineers, teachers, analysts, and more, for whom the alarm clock rings between five and six in the morning to do a first training shift, take a bath, and quickly put on their work clothes. Not for long, because when they leave the office, clinic, school, they put on the Devil’s cape again. The double shift is after the work day. The day seems eternal. Meetings with friends, social events seem to have no space in your agenda. And if there is time, there is exhaustion. Rest is essential, they know it and prioritize it. For years they put themselves aside and their absolute priority is the team, the selection, the maximum objective. All, without financial remuneration, asking the bosses to please understand each request for a tournament. It’s true, the final photo is beautiful. Full stadium. Penalty match. Resolution with agony and the run towards the embrace with her, tonight’s heroine, Natalia Salvador, the archer who has a particular angel. Everything shines. But, for it to shine, it took a lot of effort and a large group of players and coaching staff who for years understood that without a path, there is no goal.

Maybe you are finding out from this photo of the World Cup qualification. It is necessary to know what is behind it. It’s not worth double. It is worth millions because they also have the ability to spread this passion and generate new dreams in children. There are several objectives achieved. Las Diablas are going to the World Cup for the second consecutive time and Las Diablas are making hockey grow in their country. Now, more girls want to be like them: professionals and World Cup winners.