Streaming Olympic workouts for relief

MANILA: Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz noticed livestreamed concerts were collecting money for coronavirus relief and was struck by inspiration: why not raise funds with an online workout? Since then the Olympic silver-medallist — and strong contender for her country’s first Games gold —has made enough money to buy food packs for families in the Philippines.

Diaz has done it all from Malaysia, where she was training to qualify for the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics when much of the world locked down against the virus in March. “I thought (distribution) would be impossible because I’m not physically present,” Diaz, 29, said.

“It’s a good thing that I have trusted friends and trusted family members who understand why we need to do a fundraising.”

That circle of supporters has handed out the packages, which include vegetables, eggs and rice, to more than 400 families. The food was bought with donations from about 50 people who joined sessions that lasted up to three hours, and gave them a rare chance to train with an elite athlete. Diaz rose to fame in 2016 after snagging silver in 53kg category in Rio, becoming the Philippines’ first female Olympic medallist and ending the nation’s 20-year medal drought at the Games.AFP