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Why Melaka, KL and durians provide a lift for golden Filipina Diaz Why Melaka, KL and durians provide a lift for golden Filipina Diaz

By LIM TEIK HU AT don't know, almost two years, so I'm When Malaysia was in lockdown thus her stay in Malaysia, is a good example really thankful I can go home now and preventing her access to the gym, Diaz of an athlete who went against the odds W日GHTLIFTER Hidilyn Diaz's gold- celebrate with my family and the people TUKYD improvised by using bamboo sticks and and took the massive expectations of a medal journey is an inspiring story that who supported me,“ said an emotional large water bottles as weightlifting country head on. any kid aspiring to make it big in sports Diaz, who made history at the 2016 Rio TALES equipment. Just like our national track cyclist can emulate. Games when she bagged a silver, and perseverance to become an By this time, Diaz has been away Azizulhasni Awang, she regularly posts The Filipina ended her country's becoming the first Filipino woman to Olympic champion, a dream she had from home for more than a year with inspirational messages on social 97-year wait for a gold medal after stand on the Olympic podium. harboured since her debut in Beijing only her trainers and the local media. winning the 55kg competition in style. Diaz became just the second athlete when she was only 18. weightlifters for company. "I don't know if I'm a national hero. The 30-year-old pipped China's world from her country to win multiple Her road to Tokyo started when, on Diaz earned her Olympic ticket when But I am thankful that God used me to champion Liao Qiuyun to the gold in her Olympic medals, joining swimmer the advice of her coach, she moved to she finished fourth in her first warm-up inspire the people to keep final lift, smashing her personal best. Teofilo Yldefonzo who won bronze in an apartment in Kuala Lumpur in tournament -the Asian Championships fighting during this pandemic," added Malaysia can somewhat share her joy the men's 200m breaststroke in 1928 February 2020 to train. in Tashkent in April 2021. Diaz, who is a sergeant with the as it was in a parking lot of a kampung and 1932. The daughter of a tricycle driver had Diaz then returned to Malaysia and Philippines Air Force. house in Melaka that she went through She became a national hero for her initially planned to train for a short stint underwent a 10-day quarantine in a "I want to say to the young her final preparations for her fourth exploits in Rio and her profile soared ahead of the world championships in hotel room. generation in the Philippines, 'You can Olympics. when she won the gold in Colombia but then the Covid-19 Despite the hardship and sacrifices, have this dream of gold too'. T'm looking forward to enjoying life in 2018. pandemic hit the world and everything her golden dream never wavered. “This is how I started and finally I because I have been in Malaysia for, I Few would have doubted Diaz's focus came to a standstill. Diaz, who is now a durian lover after was able to do it."