With 62 days left before she competes again, the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist in Hidilyn Diaz has gotten so busy and quite distracted these days.
But it’s fine for the Filipina superwoman, saying she needs the break before plunging into serious training again, this time for the World Championships in Lima, Peru in November.
“Basta mahirap i-balance lahat ng pangyayari sa buhay. Pero it’s a blessing (that) I need to enjoy kahit saglit lang,” added Diaz.
The 30-year-old Diaz, whose world ranking dropped to no. 4, said she is now spending less time with her training sessions and just enjoying the moment.
“My training session is less from my usual training before the Olympics. I became so busy with interviews, online events, courtesy calls, online classes,” said Diaz, who was ranked no. 1 last year, in an interview on Instagram with the Manila Standard.
Many unexpected blessings came knocking on Diaz’s door the moment she won the Philippines’ first gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the women’s 55-kg category of weightlifting.
And this has not stopped, more than a month after she stood on the podium and sang the country’s national anthem, which for the first time in 97 years was played in the Olympics.
Her training load, according to Diaz, has not gone past 70% at this time, due to the nonstop calls that she has been receiving from well-wishers, supporters and sponsors, ever since she set Olympic records for the women’s 55-kg division in the clean and jerk at 127 kgs and in the total at 224 kgs.
On November 1 to 7, Diaz will be seeing action in the International Weightlifting Federation-World Championships in Peru.
Diaz’s performance at the Tokyo Games has so far guaranteed her a total of P56.5 million in cash incentives, along with other pledges, such as house and lots, lifetime free flights and free food.
The cash incentives that were already given her includes ₱10 million from the government through Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act and the ₱10-million pledge by San Miguel Corporation President and CEO Ramon Ang.
There was also the ₱10 million promised by business tycoon Manny Pangilinan through the MVP Sports Foundation and the ₱3 million from House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero of 1-PACMAN Party-list
Also included in her incentives was the ₱2.5 million cash bonus from the local government of Zamboanga City, Diaz’s hometown, not to mention the P5-million pledge from Siklab Atleta Sports Foundation head and Phoenix Petroleum chair Dennis Uy, plus another ₱3 million in cash and a house and lot in Zamboanga from President Rodrigo Duterte
Diaz is now staying at a ₱14-million residential condominium unit in Eastwood, Quezon City, which was given to her by Megaworld.
She also has a ₱4-million house and lot at any PHirst Park Homes community of her choice from Century Properties of her choice, and a house and lot in Tagaytay from Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino
She also got lifetime free flights from AirAsia Philippines and Philippine Airlines.
Lately, Diaz joined Team Smart as”¯its newest ambassador.
While opening her doors to a lot of blessings, Diaz said she also remained focused at her online classes at the College of St. Benilde, where she has been a business management scholar for the last three years.
Olympic silver medallist Liao Qiuyun, beaten by Diaz during the Olympics, will be her top rival in the world championships since she now occupies the no. 1 position in the women’s 55-kg class.
At no. 2 is another Chinese in Li Yajun, while at third is Olympic veteran Muattar Nabieva of Uzbekistan.