Hispanic Heritage Month: Valentina Plazas And Maximiliano Fernandez Hope To Carve A New Path To Milan

In the world of figure skating, where grace and grit blend seamlessly on ice, Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez have carved out a space uniquely their own. As the first fully Hispanic pair to compete for the U.S. at the world championships, the duo is pushing harder than ever to prove that representation matters — and that resilience, rooted in culture and identity, can carry a team all the way to Olympic ice.

But their journey to the world stage has been anything but ordinary.

Plazas, 25, moved to the U.S. from Bogotá, Colombia, when she was just six years old in 2006. Her family applied for political asylum, but citizenship didn’t come until more than a decade later. She didn’t even step onto the ice until she was 12, when skating quickly became her passion. Fernandez, 29, was born in Hialeah, FL, to a Peruvian mother and a Cuban father. He also began skating at the relatively late age of 13.

The now Michigan-based twosome met in Miami, FL, where their shared Hispanic heritage and late start in skating gave them common ground. By 2021, they had earned a junior bronze medal in their debut at the U.S. Championship. Three years later, they went home with a matching medal at the U.S. National Championships. A result of relentless perseverance and an unshakable partnership.

“For me,” Fernandez said, “being a Hispanic skater and being the first team to ever go to Worlds representing that background — it’s very special.” He often credits Rudy Galindo, the 1996 U.S. national champion and trailblazing Hispanic skater, as a guiding inspiration.

“We like to follow in his footsteps,” he added. “It’s an honor to be that representation and maybe one day inspire more skaters like us.”

Plazas echoed the sentiment, crediting her family’s work ethic for shaping her identity on and off the ice.

“We’re hard-working people,” she said. “Our coaches always say we’re not afraid to put in the work, and that comes from our roots. It’s what makes us strong as a team.”

Though their rise has been inspiring, it hasn’t come without obstacles. As Hispanic skaters in a sport historically lacking in Latino representation, Plazas and Fernandez often felt like outliers.

“I don’t think we’ve always been seen as a team that’s going to be challenging in terms of results,” Plazas said. Some of that, she thinks, is because the twosome doesn’t look like typical figure skaters. “But it’s a privilege to do what we do and represent our culture.”

Growing up in South Florida, access to ice rinks was limited.

“You can’t name another team from there that’s made the national podium,” Fernandez noted. “We represent more than just our countries of origin — we represent that whole South Florida, Caribbean-Latin melting pot.”

Their connection to other Hispanic skaters keeps them grounded. “Donovan Carrillo is a good friend,” Plazas said about the 25-year-old who has the highest placement by any Mexican skater at a world championships. When Plazas started skating, she would see Carrillo at her rink.

“It’s surreal that we’re at the same level now. I really look up to him,” she shared.

In 2024, years after putting off nagging pains, Fernandez underwent knee surgery that forced the pair to sit out for nearly a year and a half. Their first competition back was three months ago, and it felt like a breakthrough.

“We’re happy,” Fernandez shared hesitantly. But he is aware that “time is ticking” on claiming that coveted third spot headed to Italy. “It’s been a long year, but we’re happy with where we’re heading.”

Plazas added that the downtime and distance strengthened their partnership.

For five years, the two have been training in Michigan, but with Fernandez rehabbing at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, Plazas was forced to train alone.

“It wasn’t easy, but we grew. We communicate better now,” Plazas said.

Mental health also became a major focus. “I went through depression last year, not being a part of the season,” Plazas shared candidly. “Working with a sports psychologist helped me a lot.”

Their current programs reflect not just artistic ambition but personal stories. They kept last year’s short program to “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman — a nod to their unfinished goals. Their free skate, set to The Lion King, holds symbolic meaning.

“It’s more about Mufasa’s comeback,” said Fernandez. “It represents my own comeback after sitting out last season — going to war for the spot we want.”

Looking ahead to Milan, their goals are clear: clean programs, consistency, and connection.

“We feel confident,” Plazas said. “We’ve worked hard on our mental and physical health. It’s about putting it all together now.”

For both, the opportunity to represent not only the U.S. but also their Hispanic roots is deeply meaningful. Plazas remembered competing at nationals in San Jose, CA — where there is a large Hispanic population — and “we had families of Hispanic descent come up to us and tell us how much their kids love to watch us skate,” said Plazas.

At the heart of it all is their heritage — and family.

Plazas fondly remembers her mom leaving over 200 homemade Colombian arepas (“they look like pancakes, but they’re not,” she said) in the freezer after visiting. Fernandez, too, misses the food that comes with big family gatherings.

“That’s one of the hardest parts about being a skater is being away from our family,” he admitted, slightly teary-eyed. “When you get to have those moments, you appreciate it more.”

Their Olympic dream is now within reach. And if they make it to Milan, they’ll be doing so not just for themselves — but for every young Hispanic skater who dares to dream.