Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz shares her weightlifting journey in a short film entitled #LiftingMakesMe Lift Others. Co-presented by TheRack.Ph, a strength equipment depot based in the Philippines, Hidilyn shared her stories of “becoming” as she details her endurance not only in the sport but also in life.
The short film is set at the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy facility in Jala Jala, Rizal, where Hidilyn and her husband, Julius Naranjo, showcased the work they have been doing recently. “I started [weightlifting] when I was 11 years old, we used tree branches as a technique bar. I trained with my male cousins under an Aratiles tree, with soil as the floor,” Hidilyn shared as she reminisced about the beginning of her weightlifting journey, using the environment to make up for the lack of training materials.
She also shared that her goals as a weightlifting athlete had changed from gaining personal achievements to helping other aspiring athletes, as she noticed that kids were inspired since her silver medal win at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
But reality isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. “I needed to go through intense training to get stronger, but sadly, I went through a lot, and I failed to qualify [in the 2024 Paris Olympics],” Hidilyn Diaz shared. “Suddenly, I realized, the kids are here, I am here. This is my reason. This is my purpose,” she added, as she shifted her focus towards being a leading voice in the industry. Together with her husband, Hidilyn went on to create her own weightlifting academy for kids beginning to realize their passion and dream in the world of weightlifting. She has also taken on a role as a representative of the International Weightlifting Federation executive board.
As a coach, Hidilyn does not only lifts weights, but also people. Through the couple’s efforts, weightlifting was re-included in the Palarong Pambansa, an official annual national sports event for student athletes in the Philippines.
Watch her inspiring story below.