The young man from Lanzarote, Iván García, has become the only freestyle football athlete in the Canary Islands. Focused body and soul on this freestyle football specialty, while dreaming of being able to dedicate himself to it professionally. His beginnings in this unusual and little-known sport were self-taught, when he combined his passion for common football and played for Sporting Tías. "I've been playing soccer forever," he acknowledged in a recent interview on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero.
The Youtube social network has been his teacher to learn how to handle the freestyle style in football. "I started tapping with a ball and watching videos on the internet," he clarified about his beginnings when entering the sport.
Everything he has achieved has been with effort and trial during all days. "By trial and error" is how he remembers having acquired the skills he now possesses. What has cost him the most has been familiarizing himself with the technique. "Starting from scratch is always complicated," he stressed to listeners. A teaching process with which he has learned to fall and get up quickly to continue forward. "With practice, everything gradually comes out, but I have fallen in some jump or another", he spoke about his ability to overcome during practice.
Since he began his journey in this sport in 2016, with his first 'three disciplines' championship in Madrid, the young man continues to stand out for his ability to self-learn. "I have been incorporating maneuvers from other disciplines such as breakdance and rhythmic gymnastics," he pointed out about the new styles by which he is being influenced.
He has already become champion of some of the different championships in which he has been encouraged to participate. In 2019, he became the winner of the International Championship in 'three against three' in Barcelona. In addition, he has his third place in an Online Championship in 2018 and his award as runner-up in 'three against three' in 2023.
Currently, he is the "only Canary Islander athlete" dedicated to freestyle football, he revealed. He knows that his studies are the most important thing and that dedicating himself to this sport professionally is a "complicated task". "I can't dedicate myself professionally only to sports, the opportunities it has are focused on networks, which is what can work best for you," he commented. He continues to position himself and manage his social networks to attract new followers and different audiences that can boost his sports career. Instagram and Tik Tok are the two communication tools in which he is currently seen handling the ball.