Pinay weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz bagged three gold medals in the women’s division in this year’s Weightlifting World Cup last Tuesday in Rome, Italy.
The 28-year-old athlete lifted a total of 212 kg after dominating the 93 kg snatch and the 119 kg clean and jerk.
Hidilyn’s performance should be able to seal her spot for the Tokyo Olympics in July. She is now at the fourth spot in the women’s 55kg category.
Her manager, Noel Ferrer, took to Facebook and shared a video to congratulate the Olympic silver medalist.
“One more competition to go, and we’re ready for TOKYO 2020. Next week when you are back in the country, you’ll be focusing on the hard part- the long and rigorous hours of training.”
“This can be very tiring and frustrating, sad, and challenging, too. But hardwork and goodwill always pays off! Know that we are always here behind you and praying for you! You can always count on our support and love Haidie! #RoadToTokyo2020 #PinoyPride #TeamNOEL,” he wrote on his post.
When asked by her manager what she really need from the Filipino people, Hidilyn said she only needs their prayers.
“Yung pinaka kailangan ko talaga from the Filipino people is yung dasal because at the end of the day it’s God and I really need your prayers. Prayers talaga,” she said.
In the video, she said she had to give up everything while training to get to where she is now. “Mahirap. I have to give up everything. I just have to focus in training and diet tapos yun patayan sa training,” she said.
Last December, instead of spending the holidays with her family in Zamboanga, Hidilyn was preparing for Tokyo 2020.
“People wonder why I am not home in Zamboanga for the holidays. But as we got closer and closer to #Tokyo2020 I can’t stop my training since we are 4 weeks out from competition,” she explained on an Instagram post.
“These are the sacrifices us athletes and coaches make to achieve the dream for our country,” she said.
Hidilyn won the country’s first gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. She maintained her winning streak after copping another gold medal in last year’s Southeast Asian Games.
