Rico and Karla had the pleasure to chat and get to know more about Olympic gold medalist and champion weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz on All Out! From her dedication, love for the sport and humble beginnings that brought her victory in the recent Tokyo Olympics. The road to her victory is not easy but it sure is worth it!
After a whirlwind of emotions, success and a gold medal from the recent Tokyo Olympics, how has Hidilyn been doing so far? Well, she has finally reunited with her parents! Hidilyn did not get to see her parents for 19 months due to training in another country, in preparation for the Olympics. "Nung nakita ko sila, umiyak lang. Umiyak yung Nanay ko, yung Tatay ko. And hugs lang. Nakakamiss din eh." Hidilyn shared. We're certain that those 19 months of sacrifice were worth it and Hidilyn's parents couldn't be any prouder for their star athlete!
Hidilyn's Olympic win is not just a win for her, but for all the Filipinos as well as this is the first gold medal for the Philippines in the Olympics since joining the competition in 1924. It truly is a milestone! Hidilyn couldn't help but be happy with the reaction and love she got from the Filipinos after her win and it was such an emotional yet joyous moment.
View this post on Instagram
Prior to the Olympics, Hidilyn has also been winning medals left and right from different competitions before. She has bagged a bronze medal gold in the 2019 World Championships, placed silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics and earned the gold in the 2018 Asian Games, 2019 SEA Games and of course, the recent Tokyo Olympics 2020.
"'Di ako makapaniwala. Pero first thing in my mind, nagpapasalamat ako kay God kasi nagawa ko eh." This was Hidilyn's initial thought when she finished her winning move in the Olympics. In weightlifting, it tends to be more nerve-wracking as the score is just a one time thing unlike the other sports where you can see a tally of your scores. Hidilyn has that mindset that she has to keep pushing 'till the end to know the result, and she did pull through in victory! All in God's perfect timing for Hidilyn.
Going back to the start of it all, what made Hidilyn pursue weightlifting in the first place? Seeing as that sport is not usually common for girls, Hidilyn broke down that stereotype and proved that girls can lift weights too! It started when Hidilyn was watching her cousins doing some weightlifting techniques and got curious about it which she eventually tried. "Nung na-try ko, na feel ko na masaya dito, na belong ako." Hidilyn immediately found a love for weightlifting the moment she tried to lift those weights. Hidilyn also mentioned how she has tried different sports before like basketball, volleyball and badminton and shared how she would always lose to her cousins in those sports. She also found joy in weightlifting as it was the sport that made her finally beat her boy cousins at. True girl power right there!
But in the traditional sense, Hidilyn was no stranger to criticisms and the lack of support, even from her own mother who used to discourage her to stop weightlifting since it's a sport for boys. There were even shuns towards Hidilyn about girls' muscles getting big due to weightlifting which would make suitors turn away from them, but those negative words and discouragements did not bring Hidilyn down as she continued to push forward with her love for the sport and eventually got the support she needed from the people she loves.
At first, Hidilyn sees weightlifting as her means of survival while also doing something fun that she enjoys. She would compete and compete and would continue to train harder until she can gain victory. She would also earn allowances given to her by the Philippine Sports Commission that she would give back to her parents as her way of helping their family. Hidilyn even suffered from an injury a long time ago which made her doubt to push thru with weightlifting, even as far as wanting to just give up! But then she also came to the realization that her love for weightlifting is stronger and that she promises to do her best if she gets to train again. Long enough, Hidilyn has now realized her true passion and dedication for the sport which just seems to grow as days pass.
Before the Olympics, Hidilyn shared her struggles on social media about gaining financial support for her training to the Olympics. She has asked for the help of the Philippines governement and for private sponsorships to achieve her dream to go to the Olympics. This was a hard journey for Hidilyn as the response she got from the help that she needed was mostly negative, thinking that these will all be for personal use. "Pag nasa sports ka, hindi ka parating nasa taas. Kailangan mag hanap ng paraan para ma-maintain yung status mo or mag hanap ka ng tulong, manghingi ka ng tulong para lalo kang mag improve as an athlete." Publicly asking for help was a bold move for Hidilyn and although she used to regret doing that move before, but now she doesn't regret it anymore as she wants to be transparent and let the Filipinos know that an athlete's journey is not and will never be easy. Hidilyn is very vocal about receiving support, especially for a worldwide event like this, and to be prepared in the right way. It's safe to say, despite the challenges and hardships, the sacrifice, journey and preparation was worth it for Hidilyn!
Hidilyn is not just a weightlifter, she's also a woman. She makes sure to represent every Filipina woman to the world despite being in a sport that is usually for men, and what better way to represent than have her make-up on point and intact? Hidilyn is also known for her bright, red lips and on fleek eyebrows whenever she competes. Putting on makeup before her games also gives Hidilyn that boost of confidence she needs and we are here for it! Never stop representing Hidilyn, never stop becoming the beautiful and strong woman that you are!
View this post on Instagram
Hidilyn truly is a role model, not just because of her gold win, but because of her humble self. Her feet is always on the ground, never forgetting where she came from and what she was made of, and even her support for her fellow athletes is unmatched! "Ako kasi as an athlete, Ate talaga ako ng mga bata. [...] Sports fan ako, fan ako ng Filipino athletes, so kahit sino yan mag che-cheer ako. Kahit manalo ako or hindi, mag che-cheer ako sakanila kasi nakakaproud talaga na may Filipino na nirerepresenta sa sports ngayon." Hidilyn's patriotism and support for fellow Filipinos in the world of sports is a wonderful sight to see and we are proud of all of you for representing and being so passionate.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Hidilyn, you are truly phenomenal and you have brought so much joy to your fellow Filipinos and the Philippines for your remarkable skill and dedication! This is just the start and we hope bigger things are coming your way! Filipinos will always support you in your endeavors.
Catch the full interview of Hidilyn Diaz on All Out with Rico and Karla here (also up on our Facebook page and Twitch channel):