Who lifts up Hidilyn Diaz?
In 2015, burdened by a persistent knee injury and the heartbreak of failing to qualify for the Southeast Asian Games, Hidilyn Diaz found herself at a crossroads, on the verge of abandoning her weightlifting career.
It was during this difficult period—while rehabilitating her injury and wrestling with an uncertain future—that Diaz found a new purpose. She began coaching and mentoring young lifters at a local gym in her hometown in Zamboanga. And in seeing the joy in the children’s eyes, she knew she couldn’t quit.
“Sila ang bumuhat sa ’kin,” Diaz tells Lifestyle Inquirer. “I saw how happy they were, and knew they drew inspiration from me. That made me realize that I can’t just give up.”
Despite her debilitating injury and unsteady morale, she soldiered on and gave herself one more shot. To give herself that extra push, Diaz made a promise: if she medaled at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she would build a gym in her hometown of Zamboanga.
Happy to give back
Fueled by perseverance and the inspiration she drew from the very kids she mentored, Diaz won the silver medal in the 53-kg weight division, and made good on her promise—using some of her prize money to buy land and build her dream gym in her hometown.
Four years later, competing in the 55-kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she did herself one better, winning the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal. Determined to give back and elevate the sport that brought her and her country honor, she established the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy (HDWLA), a non-governmental organization and sports grassroots program that aims to develop future champions.
Now, with her sporting legacy secured, Diaz is no longer driven by personal glory or podium finishes, and has committed herself to mentorship beyond competition. “Medals are medals, yes, but there’s a responsibility that comes with it. And that, for me, is giving back,” she says.
Located in Jalajala, Rizal, HDWLA opened last year and now trains more than 40 young hopefuls. Being with them reminds Diaz of her own childhood, when at 11, she trained under an aratiles tree using makeshift barbells made of wood and old jeepney tire rims. The fact that her students don’t have to do that and have proper equipment makes the 34-year-old athlete emotional.
“I’m happy seeing myself in them. I’m happy seeing them happy to discover and do the sport. I’m happy that they’re active,” says Diaz, who runs the academy with her husband and coach, Julius Naranjo. “Weightlifting wasn’t a popular sport, but seeing that change little by little warms my heart.”
Carrying the country’s and her academy’s names
To amplify her advocacy, Diaz has partnered with Eleiko and TheRack.Co to produce a short film tracing her journey. Titled “Lifting Makes Me Lift Others,” it follows her from her early days in weightlifting to her historic Olympic gold. And for the first time, she shares her personal reflections on the story of not qualifying for the Paris 2024 Games. Her bid for a fifth Olympic appearance was cut short when her weight division from Tokyo 2020 was eliminated for Paris, forcing her to compete in the foreign 59-kg class.
The five-minute short was released on social media and at screening events hosted by HDWLA, Eleiko, and TheRack.Co, with the same three organizations teaming up to organize a weightlifting exhibition competition in January 2026.
“A Filipino won at the Olympics and is now giving back,” she says. “I don’t just carry my name as Hidilyn Diaz—I also carry the name of my country and our academy, with the goal of inspiring people to lift their dreams.”
“We want to show that there’s a Filipina who won a gold medal—and she didn’t stop there. She kept going, against all odds, not for herself, but for others.”
While she finds her work fulfilling, Diaz admits that her mission’s sustainability remains a challenge. The academy operates and supports athletes at no cost. But without a steady stream of funding, the team must generate their own support, especially for events or competitions. And sometimes, they rely on selling merchandise, holding workshops, and putting up fundraisers to keep the academy running. To expand her efforts, Diaz is also seeking help from the private sector to establish grassroots feeder gyms that would complement the academy’s mission.
Her life’s “whys”
Diaz knows very well what it’s like: not working with the bare minimum and not feeling passionate about what she does. There was a time when weightlifting was simply a way to support her family, she admits. While money is essential—a basic reality of life, she says—it wasn’t a sustainable source of motivation. “Later on, it became tiring, and I would ask myself, ‘What is this all for?’” she relates. “A lot of pressure came with it.”
But she remains optimistic. More than anything else, Diaz sees her academy as a “playground,” where kids can develop a genuine love for weightlifting. Because if they feel forced and see training as a chore, they will never excel, she points out. “Having friends there can also help motivate them,” she says. “They can train, play, and have fun at the same time.”
Inspired by her own experience, Diaz’s holistic approach also creates space for daily reflection and spiritual wellness, teaching young athletes life lessons beyond sports. Faith, in particular, has helped deepen her love for the sport.
“I learned to love myself more, and that allowed me to truly love the sport. I was able to do this because I knew Someone was always looking out for me and loving me unconditionally,” she relates, adding that faith was a significant catalyst in helping her discover her “whys” in life.
And once you discover your dream, Diaz says, pursue it wholeheartedly and never give up.
“You have to train consistently, even when you feel lazy, and always reflect on your purpose—your dream, your family, whatever your ‘why’ is. Don’t give up on your dream,” she says. “You can do it. Just ask for guidance from your coaches, family, and God. Kayang-kaya.”
