DIAZ Hidilyn

General
NEW WEIGHT CLASS
Having claimed the 55kg title at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and the 2022 World Championships in Bogota, Colombia, she plans to move up to the 59kg category ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. "It was good timing [winning gold at the 2022 World Championships] because that is the last time I will compete at 55kg. I need to be more focused while training to meet 59kg. Rest is likewise crucial to prevent injuries. I will also work on my diet. I have to really accept and train my mind that this is a completely different weight [category] and I have to double my effort. It's easy to build mass, but it's hard to build your muscles and develop your strength at the same time." (sports, 02 Jan 2023; olympics, 12 Dec 2022, 06 Dec 2022)

GYM
In 2017 she opened a weightlifting gym in Zamboanga, Philippines. "My main goal is to help out kids in my hometown realise their dream in weightlifting. This sport could change their lives and hopefully they could become just like me in the future." (bworldonline, 19 May 2017; sunstar, 11 May 2017)

TURNING POINT
She feels her 2014 knee injury was a turning point in her career. "It was my breakthrough [as well], because I met a lot of sports science people who opened my mind [about] strength and conditioning. When I competed at 58kg, my food intake was all rubbish junk food. That's when I started to eat healthy. My body dropped [in weight], then my performance improved. When my weight was 56kg, my friend told me that at 53kg I would have more chance of winning the Olympics than at 58. Because there are heavier lifters at 58 that lift better numbers than me. So 53 would be more of an advantage for me." (tokyo2020, 24 Nov 2020)

FURTHER EDUCATION
She has studied business administration at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Manila, Philippines. (philstar, 09 Nov 2021)

She became the first athlete representing the Philippines to win a gold medal in any sport at the Olympic Games, when she placed first in the 55kg category at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Previously, she became the first female athlete representing the Philippines to win a medal in any sport at the Olympic Games when she claimed silver in the 53kg category at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 31 Aug 2021; news, 26 Jul 2021; iwf, 28 Aug 2018)

She became the first weightlifter from the Philippines to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, when she triumphed in the 53kg category at the 2018 Games in Indonesia. (SportsDeskOnline, 12 Sep 2018; iwf, 28 Aug 2018)

In 2015 she became the first female weightlifter representing the Philippines to finish on the podium at the world championships by winning three bronze medals in Houston, TX, United States of America. (SportsDeskOnline, 12 Sep 2018; iwf, 28 Aug 2018)