Team HD doesn’t want Gao Kaiwen to be away for long.
Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz bared on Tuesday that her camp plans to make the Chinese head coach their consultant moving forward.
“Nag-usap na kami, ang Team HD, parang si Coach Gao, baka gagawin naming consultant,” she told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
Gao had previously said that he is uncertain in he’ll return after helping the Filipina become the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo.
The 64-year-old is set to return home to China to spend time with his family after being away from them for nearly three years. And Diaz understands.
“Matagal-tagal na rin siyang hindi nakauwi sa kanila, Dahil sa pandemic mas pipiliin niyang i-treasure yung time with his family and tatay niya,” she said.
But then, Team HD is keen to have him around, still.
And in this slight restructuring, strength and conditioning coach — and Diaz’s partner — Julius Naranjo is set to assume Gao’s role.
“Si Coach Julius ang head coach,” she said. “Tapos hahanap kami ng assistant coach na tutulong sa amin pagdating sa laro at saka yun.”
What Diaz and Co. are also looking for are more weightlifters, which her team could work with — and, more importantly, train.
“Hoping na may ite-train din kaming ibang atleta para mas masaya ang training, mas motivated din ang ibang atleta to train with us,” she said.
