Portrait No. 20 - Marina Martin

 

Could you introduce yourself in a few words?

My name is Marina Martin, I am 23 years old and I am in my final year of master's degree. In parallel with my studies, I am a high-level flag football athlete.

Could you tell us about your journey that led you to flag, and how you discovered this sport?

I started with basketball first, then I did sambo, a Russian sport that combines boxing, wrestling, and judo. I then practiced swimming before returning to basketball. But I committed too many fouls in that sport, so my mother enrolled me in American football.

As I grew up, there was no longer a women's section in my club, which led me to flag football, a discipline that falls under the same federation.

Could you tell us about your journey in Flag football?

I started flag football in 2020 with the Centaures de Grenoble, where I stayed for two years. I then moved to Paris, where I played for the Météores de Fontenay-sous-Bois until 2024.

After that, I played a season with two clubs: the first part of the season with the Redlips, with whom we were French champions, European vice-champions, and world club vice-champions. Then I joined the Hurricanes de Montpellier for the second part of the season, where we finished 4th in the French championship.

This year, I moved back to Paris and now play with the Diables Rouges de Villepinte, with whom we finished French vice-champions.

Could you explain what flag is?

Flag football is a sport played 5-on-5. It's the younger sibling of American football. The goal is to gain ground to score in an end zone called the "end-zone". When a team scores, it's called a "touchdown".

The rules are quite similar to American football, with one difference: there's no tackling. To stop an opponent's progress, players wear a belt with flags attached to their waist. You simply have to remove one of these flags to simulate a tackle and stop the play.

If you had to describe flag to someone who knows nothing about it, in one image or comparison, what would it be?

To give a simple comparison, flag football is somewhat the equivalent of 7-a-side touch rugby, but with 5 players on the field. Touch rugby is a derivative of rugby, while flag football is an adaptation of American football.

Could you tell us what your position is and explain what it involves?

I am a receiver. This means that when the quarterback (the player who throws the ball) calls "go," I have to run the route he asked me to, catch the ball, and then advance to score without getting my flag pulled!

I know about ten different routes, but I mostly learn game concepts.

What do you feel on the field, especially as a player for the French team? 

When I wear the French team jersey, I feel immense pride. I am both very happy and excited at the idea of playing and representing my country.

But what touches me most is seeing the pride in my parents' eyes when I wear this jersey. It's a priceless moment, and I would pay to relive that feeling.

Can you tell us about your best memory in competition?

My best memory remains a group stage match at the European championships against Spain. It was a match everyone was looking forward to, especially because we had lost against them the previous year. So there was a real desire for revenge.

In that match, the atmosphere was incredible. There was a crazy crowd, a lot of noise, and I really felt like I was in a soccer match, with supporters behind us pushing us on. All that energy helped us tremendously.

In the end, we won the match, and the feeling was incredible. It felt like we had won the World Cup.

Was there a moment when you almost quit, or on the contrary, when you told yourself, "this is where I belong"?

During the 2022-2023 season, I almost quit flag. I had given everything for the French national team tryouts, but I hadn't been selected. Since I'm stubborn, I told myself, "Even giving my best, it's not enough..." At that moment, I seriously considered quitting.

So I took a long break before coming back in September even more determined. I told myself I would stop overthinking and just play my flag.

That year, I also changed positions, moving from defense to receiver. It was a revelation as I managed to be MVP in several tournaments.

What is your dream for yourself as an athlete?

Like many athletes, my biggest dream would be to win a title with my national team. Participating in the Olympic Games would obviously be the ultimate dream.

But before that, becoming European or World champion with the French team would already be something incredible. Wearing this jersey and winning a title with my country would be an immense source of pride.

What is your wish for the future development of flag football?

My wish would be for flag football to become a recognized sport, especially in the media, and for it to be one of the sports that young people naturally discover and play.

Today, it is still a niche sport, but we are working to develop it. We would like the media to show more interest in our discipline, to talk about our competitions, our performances, and to help raise awareness of flag football to the widest possible audience.