Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo will have greater responsibility for Philippine women’s weightlifting by assuming a bigger role as a board member of the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas.
While still an active national athlete, Diaz-Naranjo felt that she can do more for the sport that has given her enormous fortune and changed her and her family’s life.
“(It was) My first time attending a general assembly and an election of SWP. I nominated myself to be part of the board member of SWP because I want to contribute to Philippine weightlifting,” she said in a social media post.
“I hope my influence and experience in sports will bring more programs and awareness of sports in our country, and I hope my degree in Business Management will apply some structure changes for the management and marketing part of the association,” she said.
Among her priorities is to work slowly for the inclusion of weightlifting in the Palarong Pambansa and Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines or UAAP.
“My hope is high for the sport of weightlifting and for the future Olympic gold medalist/s of our country,” Diaz-Naranjo added.
She doesn’t just want to be remembered as the first Filipino to hand the country its first gold medal in the Olympics, when she topped the weightlifting women’s 55-kg category in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Last month, Diaz-Naranjo started her thrust to a greater path when she joined the powerful 10-man executive board of the International Weightlifting Federation Executive Board.
She attended the board meeting for the first time online, but spenttime initially observing and listening to the discussions.
Diaz-Naranjo, who also copped silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics, is also an active member of the Philippine Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.
As a blue-chip athlete, she is preparing for the qualifying events of the Paris Olympics, where she is seeking a slot in a higher weight division.