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By Leilanie G. Adriano
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST. Hidilyn Diaz talks about the role of
education in developing future weightlifters, at a press conference on Feb. 21,
2025 in Ilocos Norte. She also said weightlifting should be a regular event in
the Palarong Pambansa.
Leilanie Adriano
LAOAG CITY—Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz is on a mission to
make young Filipinos love and engage in sports, particularly weightlifting.
Diaz is touring Ilocos Norte to inspire and develop the next
generation of athletes.
The country’s first Olympic gold medalist recently met with
officials of the Dept. of Education to advocate weightlifting to be included as
a regular event in the Palarong Pambansa, rather than just a demonstration
sport.
"We really have to work on spreading the sport by having
events and to have education for technical officials and coaches,” Diaz said in
an interview on Feb. 21, 2025, noting that the key to weightlifting education
is to start from top to bottom.
She said only 10 regions and not all school divisions in the
Philippines have weightlifting sports.
Determined to give back to the Filipino community, Diaz has
volunteered to serve as the tournament director for weightlifting events once
the sport is officially recognized as part of the Palaro.
“It is crucial to monitor the sport’s development, especially
under the pressure to make weightlifting a household name,” she said in
Filipino.
Diaz expressed hope that weightlifting would become the country’s
source of gold medals in major international events.
Her commitment comes on the heels of her historic gold medal win
at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a milestone she believes would pave the way for
more gold medals in future international competitions.
The province of Ilocos Norte is hosting this year's Palaro in May
and Diaz took time to visit the world-class Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium
where most of the game events will be held.