Donovan Carrillo: "We can achieve even greater things at Milano Cortina 2026"

Donovan Carrillo insists his performance at Beijing 2022 is just the beginning.

After arriving back in Mexico City from China, the 22-year-old figure skater is already setting his sights on the next Winter Olympic Games at Milano Cortina 2026.

"We achieved important things in Beijing," he told the reporters at the airport arrival gate, "and I'm sure with the four years' preparation we now have before Milan (Milano-Cortina 2026) we can achieve even greater things."

It was a hero's welcome on his return to Mexico after the figure skater wowed the world at Beijing 2022, and for him a brand new journey is only just beginning.

At the airport fans held photos and signs reading "Welcome home Donovan, we're proud of you," and "thanks for making Mexico proud."

"It's a dream come true," Carrillo said.

"It's proof that when you put your all into something and dedicate yourself to your goals, you can reach them."

On 24 February Carrillo posted to his nearly half a million followers on Instagram that:

"If I could say anything to an eight-year-old Donovan, I would tell him that it won't be easy but it's definitely worth it.

"I'm still surprised by all the love and support that you have shown me after my participation in the Olympic Winter Games. I have such happy memories of my participation and I feel huge gratitude for all the people who put in their grain of sand and helped me achieve this."

Carrillo went viral at Beijing 2022 for his incredible skating and by becoming the first Mexican skater to make it to the free skate after he finished 19th in the short program.

He finished 22nd overall after the free in a stacked field among some of the greatest skaters in history like eventual gold medallist Nathan Chen and Japanese megastar