Hidilyn Diaz: From Olympic gold to chef dreams
Not many people know this, but Olympic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz is seriously considering becoming a chef.
In fact, she recently completed a 12-day course on the fundamentals of culinary arts at Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) Manila.
“I discovered I’m actually quite good at cooking,” she told Lifestyle. “I didn’t do it just for myself. I studied culinary because I wanted to serve my husband better, as well as our family and friends.”
This is also a step forward in Diaz and her husband Julius Naranjo’s plan to expand their business. The couple operates a training facility in Jala-jala, Rizal, called the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy (HDWA).
“We want to include accommodations. I’m thinking of putting up a café. Studying culinary is also about learning food safety and preparation. As an owner, it’s important that I understand everything that goes on in the kitchen,” said Diaz, now embracing her role as a businesswoman.
Diaz had long wanted to study culinary arts, even before winning her silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. “I made a promise to myself that I would study, but I just couldn’t find the time while chasing my dream of winning an Olympic gold medal,” she recalled. “It also didn’t help that people told me not to go through with it because studying culinary can be exhausting. This year, I finally found a course that fit my schedule.”
In God’s time
Another exciting plan for Diaz is to finally start a family. She and Naranjo have been married for over two years. “We’re hoping for a blessing this year. That’s why I’m having regular checkups with my doctor. I guess you never really know if you’re ready to become a mom until the child is actually there,” said the athlete, 34.
“Of course, Julius and I are afraid of failing as parents. But we’re in the business of training and taking care of kids, so I think we’re on the right track. We’re both excited. In training for the Olympics, you have a set timeline—four years—but with starting a family, you really can’t tell. It’s all in God’s time.”
In the meantime, the couple cares for three French bulldogs: Yesa, Yusoff, and Yumi. “Julius loves kids. Tutok siya sa mga bata,” Diaz told Lifestyle during a recent visit to the Inquirer office in Makati City, where she served as the celebrity storyteller for the Inquirer Read-Along.
At the HDWA, the couple trains up to 30 kids, some as young as 6 years old. Many are Diaz’s own nephews and nieces, while others come from the Jala-jala community.
“I started when I was 11. What’s important is that they are taught the proper techniques while having fun. It should feel like play, not a burden. That’s why, when the younger kids train, they do it with their colifters,” she explained.
Diaz and Naranjo first thought of putting up a training facility in 2020 while they were stuck in Malaysia due to pandemic lockdowns. “We both dreamed of creating a high-performance weightlifting gym in the Philippines. My husband told me, ‘We can build something like this there.’ I was hesitant. I said, ‘That’s impossible. It’s expensive to put up a gym. We won’t be able to pay rent,’” she recalled.
Advocacy
“Later, I realized that we had been preparing for it while training in Malaysia—we were very happy helping the athletes there. When we visited Jala-jala after training for Paris, we thought, ‘Why don’t we train the community here?’ That was August 2020, and that’s when it all started,” she said.
Another advocacy Diaz is passionate about is promoting mental health, particularly within the athletic community. She collaborates with Project: Steady Asia, an organization dedicated to normalizing trauma recovery and providing mental wellness support. She has also worked with companies like PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. on initiatives like the “Power Move Project,” which focuses on sports and mental resilience. This project features athletes and advocates, including Diaz, sharing their experiences to promote mental well-being in sports.
“The attention I received after winning the gold medal was definitely overwhelming. I’m an introvert, and suddenly everyone wanted my attention. Winning the silver medal had prepared me for that. I thought, ‘Ganito pala! I’m now a public figure.’ It’s true what they say: With great power comes great responsibility. It’s not just about the Olympic gold medal. I felt that kids were really looking forward to meeting me when I returned home to Zamboanga,” she recalled.
“It was overwhelming in the sense that I knew I had to give my best for them. But I can’t be that person every day—I’m also human. I don’t know if I was experiencing depression or anxiety, but there were times when I would just cry for no reason. Thankfully, I was part of a support group that helped me through my journey. My wish is for those who need mental health assistance and wellness to receive it. I hope they also get to feel that there are people who understand and support them.”
Diaz added that she has worked closely with sports psychologist Dr. Karen Katrina Trinidad, a consultant in the Philippine Sports Commission’s Sports Psychology Unit.
“It’s during these sessions that we, as athletes, are reminded that sports isn’t all about winning moments. There are times when, even while you’re already on the podium, you still doubt yourself. That’s when we need a sports psychologist,” she said.
