Hidilyn: If you really want something, work hard for it

PERHAPS aspiring athletes could listen to this.

Weightlifting star and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz underscored the hard work, dedication and sacrifice needed to hone her athletic skills to an elite level in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night last March 6 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

Diaz, who was feted with her fourth PSA Athlete of the Year award, could not emphasized more the impor-

STORY BY MICHAEL ANGELO JUGADO, SCHOOL PAPER ADVISER

tance of “Nagbunga ang lahat ng sacrifices, juggling ko sa studies, an athlete at sa military, and as a wife of my husband Julius Naranjo,” Diaz, who was awarded the prestigious plum for her golden treble at the world weightlifting championships in Bogota, Colombia last December, said.

“It shows that if you really want something, you work hard for it and inspired by those who believe in you and support you, can achieve great things in life.

“Nagbubunga na rin po iyong pagsisikap ng seven years at ga-graduate na rin ako,” the 4-foot-11 Tokyo Games heroine, who became an athletic scholar of the school after bagging a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, added. Now no longer a spring chicken at 32, Diaz said her aspiration of seeing action in a fifth straight Olympics and bringing more honor for the country is far from done.

“Sa mga nagsasabi it’s too late to start, hindi ako naniniwala diyan. Age is just a number. Ang importante doon is

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Are DGS athletes getting enough support from the school? 73% YES 27%