Despite falling short of securing her fifth consecutive Olympic appearance, Hidilyn Diaz, the celebrated Olympic weightlifting champion, asserts that she’s far from ready to retire.
Emotionally charged after narrowly missing out on a spot at the Paris 2024 Games, the 33-year-old Filipino icon expressed her determination to persist in the sport she loves.
“I love this sport, I don’t want to stop,” Diaz conveyed to the International Weightlifting Federation amidst tears.
“But what I have to do now is take a good rest and think about the priorities in my life. Today wasn’t my day; Paris was not to be.”
Diaz, renowned for her historic golden performance at the Tokyo Games in 2021, faced disappointment in the final Olympic Qualification Tournament (OQT) — the 2024 IWF World Cup in Phuket, concluding in 11th place in the women’s 59kg class with a total lift of 222kg.
This marks the first time Diaz won’t be competing in the Olympics after a remarkable streak of four consecutive appearances, setting a Philippine record.
The shift in weight classes posed a new challenge for Diaz, with her former class, the 55kg, not included in this Olympic cycle.
Consequently, Diaz had to move up in weight to contend with Elreen Ando, who competed in the 64kg category during the previous cycle.
While Ando secured seventh place in the World Cup with a total lift of 228kg, securing her spot within the top 10 Olympic qualification cutoff, Diaz holds no regrets.
“But overall, I’m happy. I’ve given a lot to this sport, and it’s given a lot to me,” Diaz reflected on her journey.
One aspect Diaz missed during her years of unwavering dedication to weightlifting was a honeymoon.
“There will be time for that now,” she remarked optimistically, supported by her husband and coach, Julius Naranjo.
“We gave it our best. Hidilyn is still a legend,” Naranjo affirmed, highlighting the enduring legacy and impact Diaz has had on the sport and the country.
(C) Hidilyn Diaz
