Hidilyn Diaz is determined to catch a flight to the Paris Olympics to essay a fitting ending to a career that made her the most accomplished athlete in the history of Philippine sports.
Diaz said closing her career with another Olympic medal is her target so she will do everything to bag a slot when she competes in the women’s 59-kilogram event of the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand from 31 March to 11 April.
Right now, Diaz has her foot in the Olympics as she ranks ninth in her weight category after posting a best lift of 224 kgs. Only the top 10 will be given slots in the Summer Games in the French capital.
Filipino Elreen Ando, meanwhile, is outside the top 10 as she is at No. 11 with a best lift of 222 kgs.
“There are times that I wanted to quit training and question myself if I could still do it. At the end of the day, I go back to why I wanted to do this,” said Diaz, who was one of the Flame Awardees during the Women in Sports Awards Night last Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
“It’s because I want to, and this is from God, weightlifting and for the country.”
Diaz’s road to glory wasn’t easy.
She first joined the Olympics as a shy 17-year-old from Zamboanga City in 2008 in Beijing. Then, she had a forgettable stint in the London Olympics before winning the silver medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Diaz finally struck gold in Tokyo, elevating her into a celebrity status.
But staying on top isn’t easy.
Diaz, for one, saw a dip in her performance after climbing to 59 kgs following the International Weightlifting Federation’s decision to scrap the 55-kg event.
In the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, Diaz settled for fourth with a total lift of 223 kgs.
North Korean Kim Ilgyong ruled the event with an incredible total lift of 246 kgs. Fortunately for Diaz, Kim and other North Koreans are not competing in other IWF events, including the Summer Games.
But for Diaz to clinch the coveted Olympic slot, she has to dislodge Ando, who is very comfortable competing in the 59-kg category.
Diaz said may the strongest woman win.
“The two of us are competing in 59-kg, so we are hoping for the best of luck,” she said.
“We all are undergoing the Olympic qualifiers and know the hardships we had to go through in these qualifiers since it is for the country.”
