Hidilyn Diaz DEFINING MOMENTS Words by Tricia Quintero Photography by Lawrence Tapalla Athletes are remembered and celebrated by their winning moments – Michael Phelps’ record- breaking eighth gold medal during the 4x100-meter medley in the 2008 Beijing Olympics; Muhammad Ali’s TKO victory over Joe Frazier in 1975’s Thrilla in Manila; and Michael Jordan’s game-winning jumper – his last in Bulls uniform – that clinched their third straight championship during the closing seconds of Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. For Hidilyn Diaz, this moment was when she successfully lifted 111 kg and 112 kg during her first and second attempts, respectively, in the Clean and Jerk Weightlifting Competition of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Bringing home an Olympic silver medal and ending the Philippines’ 20-year podium-finish drought revitalized the fervor and hype that Filipinos have for the much-coveted World Olympics. And to top it all off, all these she accomplished in the male-dominated sport of weightlifting. But amidst the glory and spotlight that comes from being a successful athlete also comes the hours, months, and years spent in training and countless nights spent nursing injuries and pain. The not-so-common angles through which we view athletes are oftentimes overlooked in favor of focusing on the triumphs and the highs. More often than not, however, these stories are what can make the achievements of an athlete all the more worth celebrating. And this is exactly what we did one cloudy Thursday afternoon in a quaint café, five minutes away from the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in the busy, concrete jungle that Hidilyn Diaz has learned to call home – Manila. Straight from her rigorous three-hour morning training, Hidilyn arrived and greeted us with so much enthusiasm. Despite her busy life of juggling between training as an Olympian by day and being a Business Management freshman at the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde at night, she made time for a quick chat with me over our iced coffee. Here, she looked back on her humble beginnings and shared her thoughts and feelings towards weightlifting, the Olympics, and success, and gave us a bit of a glimpse of her future plans. Parts of this interview have been translated from Filipino to English. 24 When people hear “Hidilyn Diaz” they usually associate opportunities I got out of it – specifically the money, it with your Rio Olympics 2016 win, but all stories of the scholarship grants, and the opportunities to go to triumph have even more interesting beginnings, can different places that otherwise I wouldn’t be able to you tell us how you first got into weightlifting? do. So I kept joining competitions until I entered the Philippine National Team and represented our country My weightlifting career was actually born out of curiosity in international competitions. I think that’s the time because I remember when I was younger, I would always that I learned to see weightlifting for more than just the see my cousins doing it. I saw them carrying bars, and so opportunities that it could give me. I got intrigued. I thought, “Why not try it as well?” It also helped a lot that I came from a family of weightlifters. The most ironic thing, I think, is that I realized that I loved it We, my cousins and I, are actually the third generation of when I was on the verge of being kicked out of the National weightlifters in the family so it’s a pretty common thing Team. That was in 2014 when I suffered a knee injury that for us to do already. We all started out with makeshift negatively affected my mindset. I started to have so many barbells made out of wood and cement. We would carry doubts about myself. As a result, my performance suffered, those and learn from our older cousin, my first coach and I wasn’t able to make it in the Asian Games. I also lost Catalino Diaz Jr. my coach, and I was so close to being removed from the Philippine National Team lineup. I felt so lost, and I didn’t I kept doing it, and later on I learned to enjoy it. I felt that know what to do because for the longest time, I dedicated I really belong in this world compared to other sports I my life to weightlifting. That’s all I ever knew. I felt useless tried – basketball, badminton – I didn’t excel in those. in the weightlifting world. And that’s when I realized But with weightlifting, I just kept on training, and soon what it has done for me. It was more than the money, the I reached the point where I could even beat my male recognition, and all the opportunities. It actually gave me a cousins (laughs). role and a place in this world. It gave me a sense of purpose. That’s when I knew that I love weightlifting. I couldn’t leave Was it love at first try? that world. I couldn’t bear the thought of not doing it. To be honest, it took a long while before I could say that So even when I was suffering from the knee injury, I didn’t Shot in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex I was in love with weightlifting. Coming from a family let it stop me. I kept training. I wanted to prove to the people in Manila City. that’s not well-off, I did it mainly because of the many around me that I could do it and how badly I wanted it. 27 What do you love most about weightlifting? It’s a constant love-hate relationship actually. I love The road to training and the not-so-little, little things like setting a goal with your coach and achieving them. I love seeing Rio made me my efforts come to life, especially during competitions because during preparations, I would doubt myself a lot – I’m quite the pessimist, you see – so when I get to prove realize that to to myself that I can do it by winning in competitions, it’s such a priceless feeling. It makes me want to do more. be a champion, I The hate is from the constant pain that comes with everyday training. It’s excruciating, and also frustrating couldn’t do it alone. especially during the days when I’m not in my one hundred percent condition. I don’t reach my goals It’s not just me. all the time. I have days when I’m low – physically, emotionally, and mentally. Sometimes, you just hit that point where you know you can do more, but for some reason you just can’t perform. And those moments really take a toll on me. What’s the best part about being an athlete? On days that you don’t reach your goals or fail in some The best part about being an athlete is when I go out there way, what do you do to bounce back? and represent our country in international competitions. It’s humbling and such a privilege to wear the Philippine I usually just cry it out. I try to understand myself, where National Team’s jacket. You are carrying your country I’m coming from. I try not to be too hard on myself. There on your back. And every time I make a podium finish, are just times when you’re down, and there’s nothing you I want to scream “I’m a Filipino!” at the top of my lungs. can do about it but be there for yourself. I try to indulge It just gives you so much pride and excitement for your go through in order to compete for the Olympics. This because I knew my time for preparations wasn’t enough. myself with the things I want – especially sweets (laughs). country. also means that I had little to zero chances of winning. Knowing myself, I needed at least three months to But then again, I need to discipline myself because I’m The main point of being a wildcard is experience and prepare or even more. trying to maintain my weight. Speaking of the National Team, how did you become exposure to the Olympics stage. But I was disappointed a part of it? at my performance then because I wasn’t able to hit the But I pushed through anyway. I was the flagbearer An example was when I came back from Rio, because score that I wanted – the score that my coach and I set for our country this time. The Olympics experience after the Olympics I stopped training for four months, My journey to becoming part of the National Team prior, but I remember telling myself that I am going was fun, especially being surrounded by your fellow and when I got back to the grind, I had to adjust again. started during my second competition where I won silver to come back for the 2012 Olympics stronger. I wasn’t athletes and being in a different country. The result of I gained a bit of weight so I had to drop a few kilos. in the National Five-in-One Championships. I was happy, going to be just a wildcard competitor anymore; I would my performance, however, wasn’t, because I got zero in That’s one of the hardest things actually – getting back but I remember telling myself that I don’t want to settle go through the qualifying rounds and prove myself.