The breakout star reflects on queer representation, redefining masculinity, and training like an elite athlete.
In Netflix’s gripping Spanish drama Olympo, the country’s top athletes train at the Pirineos High Performance Center, where perfection isn’t a goal—it’s the bare minimum. Amaia (Clara Galle), the captain of the national synchronized swimming team, has always led with discipline and drive. But when her best friend Núria (María Romanillos) begins to outperform her, Amaia suspects something more sinister is at play.
For Agustín Della Corte, who plays rugby phenom Roque Pérez, the series is more than a sports drama—it’s a psychological deep-dive into obsession, identity, and what we sacrifice for greatness.
From the Field to the Screen
Before stepping into Roque’s cleats, Della Corte was no stranger to high-performance athletics. A former rugby player himself, he began preparing for the role the day after receiving the casting call.
“I’m obsessed with my work,” he told Gayety’s Calix Quan. “When I read the script, I said, ‘This is mine.’ I started training right away with a personal trainer and a strict diet that I had to maintain for almost a year.”
That dedication helped him embody the physical and emotional toll of elite sports. “There’s this constant feeling that you’re being evaluated—that at any moment, you could be cut from the team,” he said. “That affects your confidence, your relationships, everything.”
Queer, Tough, and Tender
While Roque’s sport is rough, the character’s emotional journey is tender—and deeply personal.
“Roque gave me access to a vulnerability I hadn’t explored in myself,” Della Corte said. “There’s this idea that rugby players have to be tough, but some of the most sensitive men I’ve ever met were teammates. Roque breaks that stereotype.”
As one of the show’s LGBTQ+ characters, Roque also confronts the extra challenges that come with queerness in a hypermasculine space. “I felt proud and very responsible to carry the LGBTQ+ flag in this story,” he said. “Because while there are other LGBTQ characters, Roque is the one who faces the most difficulties in terms of his sexual orientation.
“I’m really happy that these kinds of topics continue to be addressed in fiction, because what’s happening in the real world shows us that it’s still necessary. Whether in sports or any other field, a person’s sexual orientation is often given more weight than any other value—like, in this case, their athletic performance.”
Rethinking Success
At its core, Olympo isn’t just about winning. It’s about defining what success really means—and how far we’re willing to go to achieve it.
“It’s a question I ask myself every day,” Della Corte said. “We’re all under pressure to be the best, whether you’re an athlete, a doctor, or an accountant. What I love about this show is that it forces us to sit with that pressure and ask: is it worth it?”
He hopes viewers walk away feeling seen—and maybe a little more self-aware. “If you watch Olympo with an open mind and no judgment, you’ll find a lot to reflect on.”
Olympo is now streaming on Netflix.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been translated from Spanish to English.
