Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino asserted that Hidilyn Diaz’s legacy remains intact despite missing the bus headed for the Paris Olympics.
Tolentino said Diaz should continue pursuing her passions and chase her dreams despite failing to make her fifth consecutive appearance in the Summer Games.
Diaz fell short of qualifying to the Olympics after posting a total lift of 222 kilograms for 11th place in the women’s 59-kg event of the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.
Young gun Elreen Ando clinched one of the top 10 spots of the Olympic rankings after lifting a total of 228 kgs — her best lift in the qualifying period.
Her Olympic qualification will be formalized when the qualifying deadline of the International Weightlifting Federation lapses on 28 April.
“Hidilyn, you are still our champion! Respect for winning the first gold medal in the Olympics for our country,” Tolentino said.
“Continue pursuing your passion, and we are here to support you.”
The 33-year-old Diaz has been the gold standard in Philippine sports after emerging as the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal in the women’s 55-kg event of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
She also won gold medals in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia in 2018, World Championships in Bogota in 2022 and the Southeast Asian Games twice in 2019 and 2022.
Still, Diaz apologized to Tolentino.
“I’m sorry, Cong. I’m sorry,” she said while hugging the country’s top sports executive.
Tolentino said there’s no reason to be sorry.
“You don’t have to say sorry. Again, anak, you’re still a queen, a legend,” he said.
