Natalia Duco’s Controversial Remarks Spark Backlash Against Government

El Ciudadano

Original article: “Si uno va fea, ya perdiste po’”: los dichos de Natalia Duco complican al Gobierno

The recent comments from Sports Minister Natalia Duco regarding the priorities of her management have complicated matters for the government of José Kast.

«I want to share something with you all: the number one priority of the Sports Ministry will now be providing stylish clothing for our athletes,» she stated over the weekend during the ITTF World Para Future Santiago 2026 event, a remark that sparked social media uproar with criticisms aimed at her for creating an unnecessary controversy in a sensitive governmental area.

«Isn’t it important? That’s what I think, and tell me if I’m wrong. For us, the clothing we wear to represent Chile is much more than just a sweatshirt; it’s the outfit the superhero wears when heading to battle,» added the minister, indicating a troubling disconnection from the structural urgencies of Chilean sports.

In her comments, Duco did not mention any specific measures to be implemented by her ministry to improve the country’s sports infrastructure, promote different disciplines, or provide resources for athlete support and training. She remarked that, “if you show up looking poorly dressed with the wrong shirt, you’ve already lost.”

“One needs to dress so well that others desire your tracksuit, because if you do, you’ve already won. That’s my obsession: to ensure we have equipment in Chile that matches what we deserve,” emphasized the secretary of state, which led social media users to accuse her of trivializing an area crucial to society like sports.

The controversy escalated after a video featuring Duco went viral, originally posted by the Team ParaChile TikTok account, which was subsequently deleted following a flurry of negative comments directed at both Duco and the government.