RIO Olympics 2016 weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz braces for a busy 2017 when she resumes serious training with Antonio Agustin, Jr., who she wants to rehire.
Diaz, 25, who is still vacationing at her Mampang home in Zamboanga City, said coach Agustin will talk to Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) national training director Marc Velasco when she returns to Manila after the holidays.
"Gusto ko talagang i-rehire ang coach ko pero kakausapin pa niya si Sir Marc pagbalik ko sa Manila (I really want to rehire my coach but coach [Agustin] will have to speak with sir Mark when I return to Manila)," she said in a Facebook chat interview with SunStar Davao.
She aims to compete in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games on September 17 to 27 in Ashgiabat, Turkmenistan, and in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Anaheim, USA slated November 28 to December 5.
She might also see action in the Fisu Universiade on August 20 to 25 in Chinese Taipei as she will avail of the college scholarship grant that the College of Saint Benilde, where she plans to take Business Management, offered her.
Diaz also said that she will conduct seminars during weekends to promote awareness on weightlifting in some cities of Metro Manila and in other neighboring provinces.
"I will have a major competition in weightlifting here in Philippines. I want to have more competition for weightlifters that will run every year with the help of PLDT (Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Company) and the Crossfit family," she said.
The gym that she plans to build in Mampang is also scheduled to be built this year. She already has a copy of the gym's design.
She also reminisced how blessed she was in 2016, sharing that in December 2015 she only dreamt of competing in the Rio Olympics 2016 and building a gym for the Mampang Weightlifting Club. "At that time I had my shoulder injury, I lost hope during the process. It was really a painful and memorable journey towards my Rio stint. I had to push myself every time I trained although my shoulder was hurting."
End of April last year, she won a silver in the Asian Senior Championships to earn her a spot in the Olympics.
She went on saying that, "It was only a dream but it became a reality." She competed in the world's premier sporting spectacle despite the trials and challenges she faced along the way en-route to clinching a silver for the country, ending a 20-year Olympic medal drought.
Diaz added that she only expected a bronze and use the incentive to buy a lot beside her Mampang home to build a small but decent gym so that kids will be able to train well.
"But God gave more than what I expected. Truly, he is powerful and there is nothing impossible if you stick to him," the first Filipina and Mindanaoan Olympic medalist said.
She was thankful that when she returned from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Filipinos recognized her feat including President Rodrigo Duterte, who gave her a P2 million bonus aside from the mandatory P5 million cash incentive she received from the National Government. She also met with Representatives and Senators, actors and actresses, and some prominent people in the society, among others.
She also recalled times she talked to different members of the tri-media and held weightlifting seminars.
"Winning in Rio, give me a lot of opportunities in life - financially, houses and opportunity to build more sports and weightlifting clubs in the country," she said.
Companies and establishments also recognized her effort including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Air Force, Bank of the Philippine Islands, PLDT, Ayala, Air Asia, Universidad de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City and other cities and municipalities. Some children also sent her messages on her Facebook and Messenger accounts.
She added, "I want to thank them sincerely although I can't message them one by one but my heart is flattered and overwhelmed by their love. Please include me in your prayer hopefully I will survive my jounrey to Tokyo 2020."
Diaz spent Christmas Day and New Year's Day with her family and friends in Zamboanga City.