Pang-4 na ni Hidilyn Diaz

MANILA, Philippines — Sasabak si national weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz sa kanyang ikaapat na sunod na Olympic Games.

Matapos buhatin ang silver medal noong 2016 edition sa Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ay muling pupuntiryahin ni Diaz ang kauna-unahang Olympic gold ng Pilipinas sa Tok-yo, Japan.

“It takes a lot of work and discipline. Every day, you need focus and determination. Little things can add up,” wika ng 30-anyos na tubong Zamboanga City.

Sa edad na 17-anyos ay sumabak si Diaz sa Olympics noong 2008 sa Beijing, China bilang isang wildcard entry kasunod sa London noong 2012.

Sa Tokyo Olympics ay umaasa si Diaz, isa sa 19 Pinoy qualifiers, na maibibigay niya ang unang Olympic gold medal ng bansa.

“Yes, the goal is getting that gold, but it’s also the journey of not giving up and just taking each day as a chance to start over,” sabi ng 2018 Asian Games at 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.

Kasalukuyang pinupulido nina Chinese mentor Kaiwen Gao at strength and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo ang teknik ni Diaz para sa Tokyo Olympics na nakatakda sa Hulyo 23 hanggang Agosto 8.

“We are in the off-season. So now the focus is to refine the technical kinks and maximize what she’s good at doing some,” ani Naranjo.

Bukod ay Diaz, ma-lakas din ang tsansa nina 2021 US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso (golf), world champion Caloy Yulo (gymnastics) at 2019 SEA Games gold medalist Ernest John Obie-na (pole vault) para sa Olympic gold.

Ang iba pa ay sina golfers Bianca Pagda-nganan at Juvic Pagunsan, weightlifter Elreen Ann Ando, trackster Kristina Knott, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, shooter Jayson Valdez, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, rower Cris Nievarez, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, swimmers Luke Gebbie at Remedy Rule at boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio at Carlo Paalam.