Hidilyn on quest for Olympic gold in Paris: We’re back to zero

Philippine Sportswriters Association bestows to Hidilyn Diaz the Athlete of the Year Award | 📷 PSA Facebook Page

OLYMPIC Gold Medalist and World Champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo aims to qualify again in next year’s Olympics in Paris, France, where she will move up a weight class from 55kg to 59 kg event.

Diaz said the preparation is not easy for them because of some changes they will make during training. She must gain more weight and muscles to complete the lift.

Sobrang hirap kasi parang ano mag start ulit tska maglalaro ako sa 59 (kg event) so i have to gain weight, muscle gain strength so ayun parang back to zero”
Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo

PSA Athlete of the Year

Diaz received the Athlete of the year Award Monday night by the Philippine Sportswriter Association for her incomparable achievement in Philippine Sports.

This is her fourth time she received the coveted award for Filipino athletes.

Gagawin ko ang lahat para makuhang muli ang gintong medalya para sa Paris Olympics,”
Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo

Diaz is the first Filipino to win the gold medal for the Philippines, for the women’s 55kg category for weightlifting in 2020 Summer Olympics. The Tokyo Olympics was held in July 2021 after one-year postponement due to pandemic.

Last December 2022, she also won the gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championship in Bogota, Colombia.She was also elected as member of the International Weightlifting Federation.

Training in US

Julius Naranjo said that there are many adjustments that Diaz will face for this competition to continue their success in Paris 2024. Her husband also emphasized how they trust God in their game, especially when Hidilyn competes in another weight class.

I think, its God’s plan. We have to give it up to him, we trained everyday we trained hard so I think at the end of the day God will decide,”
Julius Naranjo

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Diaz added that even though it is challenging for them, they still give their best for the country. The team also wants to focus on their goal, which they will also collaborate and train with other Olympians especially in the USA.

It is also crucial for them to delegate their knowledge and ideas and develop new strategies for the competition.

Atlanta will be Diaz’s training camp, and some USA Olympians will also join, which can be a big step for Diaz to snatch the Olympic Gold Medal again from a different weight class.

photo by Aeron Pineda

College diploma ‘coming soon’

Aside from training for the 2024 Olympics, the 32-year old Zamboangeña is also busy with her studies.

She said that she is close to achieving her dream of getting a college diploma.

Right now, she is on her last term for the Business Administration Major in Business Management at the De La Salle College of St. Benilde and hopes to graduate within the year.

“Hindi rin madali maging student athlete. Inaantok na, pumupunta pa rin, at isang scholar,” the native Zamboangeña airwoman said during speech.

“Malapit na. It took me seven years para makapagtapos,” she beamed, drawing claps from the country’s sports scribes.

Aeron Pineda

She spent almost a decade as diplomatic reporter for a daily newspaper of national circulation. She also took charge of the regional and international news operations as a senior editor of a major television network.