FORMER Bacolod Congressman and Mayor Monico "Newks" O. Puentevella, currently the Samahang Weight Lifting Association of the Philippines president, has retaken his glory being part of the victorious journey of Olympian gold medalist in weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz who made history in world sports.
Puentevella has been at the back of 2021 Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz since 2011 up to the present where the ZamboangueƱa has made an extraordinary feat in the field of sports at the highest level of sports competition -- the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was unbelievable that the Olympic games transpired when the elevated health restriction was in place.
But it happened.
Diaz could not even believe that she was able to represent the country at the highest level of a sports event in the world amid the pandemic.
Puentevella was seen as euphoric over the incredible feat of Diaz being the first Olympian to bag the gold medal in the field of weight lifting.
Seconds after Hidilyn achieved her meaningful victory, she was seen hugging her coach and Puentevella who has been at her back since she dreamed of reaching her goal as a sportsperson.
Puentevella has used a metaphor of beating China in the field of weight lifting which she succeeded in during the competition.
Hidilyn broke the record of the Philippines after 95 years of dormancy in earning the Olympic highest title -- the gold medal.
Puentevella was grateful that their efforts of sustaining the realization of a dream have possibly come true with the infallible determination of Hidilyn and her team.
Newks is certainly a profound sportsman who never got tired of taking part in achieving a goal in the field of sports.