Why 2025 Has Been Rommel Pacheco’s Most Transformative Year

Former Olympic diver and current Sports Commission director of Mexico’s National Sports Commission, Rommel Pacheco, celebrated a deeply personal milestone this past weekend. He and his wife, Lylo Fa, baptized their adopted son, Rommel Alberto, at the historic Ermita de Santa Isabel in Mérida.

The morning ceremony, held at the colonial-era chapel south of Mérida’s Centro Histórico, drew politicians, celebrities and members of the public who came to support the prominent Yucatecan couple. Among the attendees were Yucatán Governor Joaquín “Huacho” Díaz Mena and his wife Wendy Yamile Méndez Naal, along with local legislators, including state deputies Óscar Brito and Clara Rosales.

The mass was officiated by Father Óscar Viñas Olvera, rector of the Catholic temple, with entertainment promoter Rubén Anaya serving as the child’s godfather. Following Yucatecan tradition, the couple threw coins to the crowd after the ceremony concluded.

Pacheco and Fa, a content creator and social media influencer, made their adoption journey public in May when they presented young Rommel Alberto. The couple, who married civilly in 2021 with a Maya ceremony that same year and a religious wedding in 2022, had asked for privacy regarding their son’s adoption process and continue to be selective about sharing images of the child on social media.

From Pool Deck to Political Arena

The baptism celebration comes as Pacheco, 39, has successfully transitioned from a decorated diving career spanning more than two decades to a prominent role in Mexican public service. Born in Mérida on July 12, 1986, Pacheco left home at 12 years old to join Mexico’s national diving team in Mexico City, inspired after watching compatriot Fernando Platas compete in an international tournament.

“I was restless and just wanted to do twists and jumps. With diving I relaxed a little bit,” Pacheco once reflected on his early attraction to the sport.

His athletic dedication paid off spectacularly. Pacheco represented Mexico in four Olympic Games — Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, Rio de Janeiro 2016, and Tokyo 2021 — where he served as the Mexican team’s flag bearer in his final competition. Though Olympic gold eluded him, with his best finishes being eighth place in the 10-meter platform in Beijing and 10th place in both the 10-meter platform and 3-meter springboard in Athens, he achieved remarkable success at other international competitions.

Pacheco’s trophy case includes three Pan American Games gold medals, earned in the 10-meter platform in Santo Domingo 2003 and the 3-meter springboard individual and synchronized events in Toronto 2015. He also claimed silver medals in the 10-meter platform at the 2007 Rio de Janeiro and 2011 Guadalajara Pan American Games. At the world championship level, he earned three medals, including a breakthrough silver in the 1-meter springboard at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

The Mérida native’s celebrity extended well beyond the diving pool. With over one million combined followers across social media platforms, Pacheco became one of Mexico’s most recognizable athletes, appearing on popular reality television shows including “Exatlón México,” “Bailando con las Estrellas” (Dancing with the Stars), and “¿Quién es la máscara?” He even served 11 years in the Mexican Army, reaching the rank of lieutenant.

Political Transformation and Controversy

Pacheco’s entry into politics proved as dramatic as his diving career. In 2021, before the Tokyo Olympics, he registered as a candidate for federal deputy with the conservative National Action Party (PAN) representing Mérida. Despite concerns about balancing his athletic commitments, Mexican voters embraced the crossover athlete-politician, and he won the seat with 55,173 votes out of 170,929 cast.

His political career took a controversial turn in 2023 when he left PAN to join the ruling Morena party, earning the pejorative nickname “chapulín” (grasshopper) for his party-switching. The move drew criticism from both his former PAN colleagues and some Morena members who questioned his political motivations.

“Several deputies have asked that the head of CONADE appear before us due to the irregularities that have occurred in her administration,” Pacheco had said in 2023 while serving as a PAN legislator, referring to then-CONADE director Ana Gabriela Guevara, whom he had threatened to sue over the withdrawal of support for aquatic sports athletes.

His party switch positioned him to run for Mérida mayor as a Morena candidate, though his political debut in the new party faced immediate challenges. At an October 2023 campaign event in Valladolid alongside then-presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, Pacheco was booed by Morena supporters who chanted “Fuera, fuera!” (Out, out!) in rejection of his candidacy.

Despite Sheinbaum’s public backing, Pacheco’s mayoral bid fell short in the June 2024 elections, losing to PAN candidate Cecilia Patrón Laviada by a significant margin — 39% to 51%.

Leading Mexico’s Sports Future

The electoral defeat proved to be only a temporary setback. In September 2024, newly elected President Claudia Sheinbaum appointed Pacheco as the new director general of CONADE, replacing the controversial Ana Gabriela Guevara, whose administration had been criticized by athletes and investigated for administrative irregularities.

“Many thanks, Dr., for the trust. We will work hand in hand tirelessly for sport,” Pacheco wrote on social media following his appointment announcement.

The appointment places Pacheco in charge of promoting and fostering physical culture and sports across Mexico, overseeing the National System of Physical Culture and Sports (Sinade). Created in 1988 as a decentralized body of the Secretary of Public Education, CONADE serves as the country’s primary sports governing body, responsible for developing annual programs to efficiently meet the objectives of physical culture and sports development.

Pacheco’s appointment came after Mexico’s mixed performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the country secured only five medals. His experience as both an elite athlete who represented Mexico on the world’s biggest stage and as a legislator familiar with government operations positions him uniquely to address the challenges facing Mexican sports.

According to a 2021 Associated Press report, Pacheco was considered “the only active athlete to be elected to a popular position” during that electoral cycle, highlighting his pioneering role in bridging sports and public service.

Personal Life and Future Challenges

Beyond his professional achievements, Pacheco has built a strong personal brand as a family man and social media personality. His relationship with Lylo Fa, documented extensively on their social platforms, has captivated fans who followed their courtship, marriage ceremonies, and adoption journey.

The couple’s decision to adopt rather than have biological children reflects their commitment to family building through different paths, a choice they have handled with both openness about the process and discretion regarding their son’s privacy.

As he settles into his role at CONADE, Pacheco faces significant challenges, including restoring confidence in Mexico’s sports administration, improving athlete support systems, and preparing for future Olympic cycles. His predecessor’s tenure was marked by conflicts with athletes, budget disputes, and administrative investigations that damaged the institution’s reputation.

With the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics and 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics approaching, Pacheco must quickly implement reforms while maintaining athlete development programs.

Rommel Alberto’s baptism symbolizes new beginnings as the former diver embraces his roles as father, husband, and steward of Mexican sports. Pacheco carries the unique perspective of someone who has stood on both the diving platform and the political stage, understanding that excellence in either arena requires dedication, strategy, and the ability to perform under pressure.

Sources: Diario de Yucatán, Associated Press, El Financiero, Animal Político, Olympics.com, Olympedia