Jakarta—Triumphant weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, already assured of at least P2 million when she returns home, has her sights set firmly on Olympic gold, inspired by her new Chinese coach, but first she might just indulge in a guilty passion—cheesecake and bubble tea.
“‹“The sacrifices you make are so hard when you’re training every day,” she told AFP after winning the Philippines’ first gold medal of the 2018 Asian Games on Tuesday.
“I can’t eat sugar and sweets. I miss eating cheesecake and drinking bubble tea with friends. It’s hard,” said the sweet-toothed 27-year-old from Mindanao.
In the Senate, Senator Sonny Angara said Diaz would get P2 million, scholarship benefits and free helathcare services under athletes benefits and incentives law for winning the Philippines’ first gold medal in the Asian Games in Jakarta on Tuesday.
“We are one with million of Filipinos elated with Hidilyn’s victory. She once again showcased the Filipino fighting spirit. She deserves all the support in recognition of the honor she continues to bring to our country,” said Angara, who is set to file a resolution commending Diaz and the rest of the Filipino medalists in the Asian Games.
Under Republic Act 10699, which Angara sponsored, Diaz is entitled to a P2-million cash incentive from the government.
RA 10699 increased the amount of cash incentives and expanded the benefits given to winning athletes, coaches and trainers.
Prior to such law, Asian Games gold medalists only received P1 million.
Diaz was already assured a place in her country’s sporting folklore, alongside the likes of Manny Pacquiao, as the only woman from the sprawling archipelago ever to win an Olympic medal.
But now, with top Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen making “a difference” in her corner, she believes she can turn Rio 2016 silver into Tokyo 2020 gold after winning the women’s 53kg event in Jakarta.
“My coach has been with me for two months,” she said of Gao, who is also head coach of the Chinese national women’s army team.
“I am so grateful for him. He made a difference in my lifts. He’s a positive person and I like to have him around me,” she added immediately after being presented with her medal.
Gao has coached multiple Chinese Olympic medallists including 2012 women’s 75kg+ gold medallist Zhou Lulu.
Diaz’s experience has been invaluable to Philippines Air Force servicewoman Diaz, who has blossomed late in her weightlifting career”•she did not even qualify for the last Asian Games in Incheon four years ago, before her breakthrough in Rio.
“He changed my technique and more than that made me understand why I need to make the change if I want to win Tokyo 2020.”
Gao introduced new routines and heavier weights in training and the results are clear”•Diaz lifted 53 kg personal bests of 92 kg in the snatch and 115 kg in the clean and jerk in Jakarta to total 7 kg greater than her Olympic silver effort two years ago.
“That change in technique has given me even more confidence,” she said, believing she can push those bests even higher in Tokyo.
“I’m really confident [of lifting more] because I was able to lift 115 kg in training,” she said.
“I just need to know my technique and visualize it. This result proves the Olympic gold medal is possible.”
First she needs to qualify for Tokyo, a cycle that starts at November’s world championships in Turkmenistan.
Meanwhile, the busy Diaz will attempt to juggle training with her air force career, college studies and managing her new weightlifting gym opened last year in her home town of Zamboanga in Mindanao.
“I don’t know if I will win [the world title] because I will go back to school,” she said. “But I will do my best.”
Diaz’s victory could reportedly be worth as much as P6 million ($112,000) in bonuses awarded to Philippines gold medallists from the government, National Olympic Committee and other organizations.
She said she would invest the money in her gym to give back to weightlifting in the Philippines and leave a legacy after she retires”•Tokyo 2020 will be her last event.
“My main goal is to help out kids in my hometown and realize their dream in weightlifting,” she said.
“This sport could change their lives and hopefully they could become just like me in the future.”
Aside from the P2-million incentive under RA 10699, Diaz stands to receive P2 million from the Philippine Olympic Committee, and P1 million each from the Siklab Foundation and the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hoong.
Hidilyn was the very first beneficiary of the Athletes Benefits and Incentives Act that we ushered into law. She received P5 million in cash incentive when she won the silver medal in the Summer Olympics in 2016.
“She spent her winning (cash prize) for building a weightlifting training facility in her town in Zamboanga,” said Diaz.
The law further provides for scholarship benefits as well as retirement benefits equivalent to 25 percent of all Diaz’s winning throughout her career.
These incentives and benefits shall be over and above the standard national athlete benefits that include free medical and dental consultation; 20 percent discount on purchase of medicine, sports equipment, transportation, hotels, restaurants and recreation centers; PhilHealth and SSS coverage; priority in housing programs and loans; and, use of living quarters and training centers.
“Hidilyn’s perseverance and triumph will definitely inspire our young Filipino athletes to also excel in international competitions,” said Angara, who also authored the Philippine Amateur Sports Training Center and Philippine High School for Sports bills.
Senator Joel Villanueva used the hastag puso to congratulate Diaz.
“Yahooooo! Gold for the PH????????Mabuhay ka Hidilyn! God bless the Philippines! #AsianGames2018 #puso #Vpositive.”
Other senators like Joseph Victor Ejercito, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Senate President Vicente Sotto III took to Twitter to laud Diaz. with Macon Ramos-Araneta