Game Changer
Earning the Philippines’ first ever Olympic Gold medal, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz embodies the power, strength and faith of a nation
2020 Tokyo Olympics weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz brings honour to the Philippines as she bags the country’s first-ever Olympic Gold Medal
Taking a deep breath on the sidelines as she awaits her turn, Olympic weightlifter, active member of the Philippine Air Force and Generation T honouree Hidilyn Diaz clutches tightly at her Miraculous Medal of the Blessed Mother. It was a reminder of all the people praying for her and of knowing that God is always with her especially now. As she stepped onto the crimson stage, the voice of her strength and conditioning coach, Julius Naranjo, rang through her mind: “One motion, chest out, one motion.”
One motion, one extra kilogramme and immeasurable determination are what it took for Diaz to stand victorious. By lifting 97 kilogrammes in snatch and 127 kilogrammes in the clean-and-jerk, setting an Olympic record in the process, she beat China’s Liao Quiyun with a total of 224 kilogrammes, bringing home the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal.
“I was not thinking of the Olympic record, I was not thinking of a medal; I was just focusing on the movement—one motion, chest out,” shares the 30-year-old champion. “I was never able to lift 127 kilogrammes in the clean-and-jerk before. I have tried but never could.” That day she did. With an entire nation cheering her on, in one seamless movement, Diaz made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Her path to this momentous achievement was not without its challenges. While representing the country in the 2012 London Olympics, she received a devastating “Did Not Finish” after three unsuccessful attempts in her clean-and-jerk. In a past interview with Tatler Philippines, Diaz expressed that she felt like “there was no way I could win in the Olympics or even go back to weightlifting. I felt like I was a loser, a failure, that I was empty and with no purpose or direction in my life”.
This could not have been farther from the truth. Picking herself up with grace, along with much sacrifice and perseverance, Diaz took home silver in Rio 2016 and continued to keep her eye on the prize. After years of training for Tokyo 2020, she was finally feeling prepared—then the pandemic hit. “Every day, we live in anxiety,” she says. “When I found out they postponed the Olympics, the athlete in me was like—what now? I’ve already given my everything.” Despite the constant fear of falling ill and logistical difficulties, Diaz never wavered. Separated from her loved ones, stuck in Malaysia due to international travel restrictions with no open gyms available, she continued to train using bamboo sticks, water bottles and weighted bags. “I’m so grateful the Olympics pushed through. I’m so grateful we made it and we were able to bring home that gold medal for the Philippines.”
Adding more weight to the win, is the fact that the only Olympic gold medal the country has ever won was achieved by a woman. “This is so significant for me, that I was able to prove that we women can do this. Kaya ng Filipina, kaya ng Filipino [The Filipina can, the Filipino can],” Diaz declares. “I am so proud to be a woman, to show that women are not just capable of being at home, that we are proficient in sports, that we can succeed in anything—while wearing lipstick too!”
The Zamboanga-born athlete says that when she started her career there was quite a bit of discouragement. “Weightlifting is considered a man’s sport. So when I began, I heard a lot of ‘Are you a tomboy?’. My own mother told me, ‘Don’t do that! That’s for boys. You won’t be able to get pregnant. You won’t get tall. You’ll have muscles like a man so how will you find a man?’ In the end, she saw that I loved what I was doing and supported me.”
Tokyo 2020 shone a spotlight on the country’s female athletes, with 10 out of 19 in the Philippine team being women. Boxer Nesthy Petecio brought home a silver medal and skateboarder Margielyn Didal won the hearts of netizens around the globe with her cheery disposition and overall sportsmanship. “To Nesthy, Margielyn and I, they all said these are men’s sports, but this is what we love, what we are passionate about. It’s not just ‘for the boys’. We are girls, and we can excel. We are strong and we are beautiful,” she stresses.
Diaz laments the fact that female athletes don’t always get their voices heard. “We weren’t always supported;
“I was never able to lift 127 kilogrammes in the clean-and-jerk before. I have tried but never could.” That day she did. With an entire nation cheering her on, in one seamless movement, Diaz made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
in the past it was difficult. Today, while we do get financial and coaching support, we don’t always find a platform. In the sporting world, if a woman speaks up, they’ll call her mahadera or pakialamera (impertinent or meddlesome). Hopefully this will change, and women will have a voice in all aspects of life.”
She acknowledges that although female athletes may have different physiological needs, all athletes are of the same core. “Sometimes we are moody and don’t have as much strength due to our cycles, but at the end of the day, we are all the same. We all need the same diligence, perseverance, consistency and courage.”
In mid-2019, Diaz made waves in the news as she revealed that she needed more financial support for her Olympic training, alluding to the fact that she had not received enough from the government and was seeking assistance from private entities. This led to some discord with some members of the Duterte administration, who have now distanced themselves from the past issue, showering Diaz with their full support. Letting bygones be bygones, she encourages the government to provide for the athletes. “I would like to use this opportunity to give a voice to my fellow athletes. We should be able to express ourselves freely and have our needs met, so that we can continue to be role models to the youth. We can show them what it takes to be a good citizen,” she said.
Diaz herself has been inspired by great Filipino sportsmen. “Ever since I was young, I looked up to Filipina long-jumper Maristela Torres. She continues to train and compete today. And of course, Manny Pacquaio. He truly is an inspiration and a legend. How many times has he won? How many times has he defended his title? And when he lost it, he is still fighting till today. He is relentless.”
Diaz exclaims: “Hopefully, I too, can be a source of inspiration to the youth to continue their goals, pursue their dreams and finish their studies. I’m still aiming higher, higher than even the Olympics. I hope that very soon, I can finally get my diploma.”
Currently enrolled in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the Olympian has been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management. “I’ve been taking just four units a semester so I can study in between training. It’s looking hopeful that I can finally graduate next year.”
What she has learnt in her career is to never give up. “When I saw the outpouring of support, all the messages from young people all over the Philippines saying I was their inspiration, that really pushed me forward and gave me extra strength to do my best. I’m so grateful for it all. I hope I was able to give back to my compatriots the same inspiration they have given me. That despite the pandemic, we can continue as a nation and keep on fighting.”
Diaz is undoubtably a national hero. With the upcoming presidential elections, one can safely assume that there are quite a few presidentiables knocking on her door for her support. “I’m not endorsing anyone. I’m in the Philippine Airforce and the Philippine National Team; we are here to serve and represent the Philippines. I serve the Filipino people and not politicians,” she asserts. In the same breath, she passionately encourages
Diaz humbly acknowledges her Catholic faith as playing an integral role in her life and success. “I have this deep personal relationship with God. I pray to him; I communicate with him. He has helped me in so many ways”
people to register and vote. In a short viral video, she expressed: “I will vote for a leader who has the heart for winning and is not a defeatist. Someone who is God-fearing and humane, and not self-centred. Someone who will care and extend support, not sow fear.”
When asked if politics would be in the cards for her in the future, Diaz laughs: “I’m afraid of politics! I’m not sure if I am capable of that, it’s a whole other level of responsibility that is needed for that career. For me, whatever God has in store, I hope he will guide me and help me. That he will continue to send me the right people around me and grant me the wisdom I need to make the right decisions in life. I’m not sure what the future holds but I need to be ready to level up. I would like to find more ways I can help Filipino athletes and youth.”
Diaz humbly acknowledges her Catholic faith as playing an integral role in her life and success. “I have this deep personal relationship with God. I pray to him; I communicate with him. He has helped me in so many ways. In Malaysia, he sent people to help us survive and get through our difficulties. At every meet, I surrender the play to him. I don’t pressure myself and think ‘gold, gold, gold’, instead I give it all up to him. I just have to do my best in training, do my best in the competition and the rest is up to him.”
What is so refreshing and attractive about Diaz is how willingly she credits others for her success. During each interview she has given, she shares about how much Team HD has done to get her to where she is today. Her core team is composed of her head coach Gao Kaiwen, assistant coach and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo, sports psychologist Dr Karen Trinidad and sports nutritionist Jeaneth Aro. “I could not have done this without them and of course the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Air Force, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas and my private sponsors, particularly the MVP Sports Foundation.”
The rigours and pressures of top athletes such as Diaz often take a toll on their emotional and mental wellbeing. “It’s so important to have people around you, people you can talk to,” she expresses. “The anxiety is high, the fear and the worries, especially with the pandemic. Mental health is so important. We need to learn that we have to take control of the things that we can and accept the things that are out of our hands.”
Among her support system, Naranjo holds a special role in Diaz’s life. “I’m so lucky! He’s not just 4-in-1, he’s more like a 10-in-1!” she exclaims with a big smile about her boyfriend of almost five years. “He’s my coach, photographer, videographer, driver, chef, all of it! He understands me and that’s the most important thing.”
With the nation going through so much uncertainty and fragmentation, Diaz and all the Olympic athletes are a unifying beacon of hope. Their perseverance and dedication serve as a true inspiration to all, reminding everyone to continue to strive for the better and to never to give up. “I know that it often has a negative connotation, but I am proud to think of myself as ambisyosa [ambitious]. I always aim high, and I will do whatever it takes to achieve my hopes and dreams. Even if we think it’s impossible, we just must ask guidance from God. I’m grateful that he sent me people to remind me to never give up. And so, I’m also here saying, we shouldn’t give up. My victory is everyone’s victory,” she states.
“I always aim high, and I will do whatever it takes to achieve my hopes and dreams. Even if we think it’s impossible, we just must ask guidance from God. I’m grateful that he sent me people to remind me to never give up”