Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines celebrates after a lift during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, July 26, 2021. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
TAGBILARAN CITY — Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist, has advised young weightlifters to “dream high” and not to settle for less.
“Dito talaga nagsimula ang lahat sa laro. Galingan natin. Give our best, evaluate kung paano palalakasin. Kung nakaya ko, kaya niyo rin,” said Diaz during the National Weightlifting Championships held in this city on Wednesday.
(Everything starts with a game. Let’s give our best, evaluate how to improve ourselves. If I made it, you’ll always be able to do it).
“Dream high, make more sacrifices and give more love.”
The National Weightlifting Championships was organized by the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP).
Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap said the city was chosen by the association as the venue of the contest because five members of the SWP are from Tagbilaran.
Yap also believed that the next Hidilyn Diaz will be Vanessa Sarno, a resident of Barangay Bool.
Sarno, 18, was a gold medalist in the 2022 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games and Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship.
According to Monico Puentevella, president of SWP, the event would allow them to see future champions like Sarno.
Diaz said that she has to practice for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“That’s our goal,” she said.
In an exhibition on Thursday, Diaz amazed anyone when she was able to lift 80 kilos.
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