A young and promising weighlifter will most likely join Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, when she plunges into serious training for the World Championships this November.
The 30-year-old Diaz said this will be possible once a revamp of his coaches and support group known as Team HD is finished.
Making room for another athlete in her preparations is among the ways that Diaz hopes to do in order to inspire a younger generation of weightlifters to seek excellence in the sport.
“(We’re) hoping na may iba pa kaming ite-train din kami na ibang atleta, para mas masaya ang training at motivated din sila na mag-train with us,” said Diaz in a Zoom huddle with scribes during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
Diaz talked about the changes within Team HD while welcoming home three boxers who also won medals in the Tokyo Games, namely silver medallists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, and bronze winner Eumir Marcial.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez also graced the virtual session.
After preparing for the Olympics for 19 months in Malaysia, Diaz said a reshuffle of Team HD is now in the works, with head coach Gao Kaiwen set assume the role of consultant, and his assistant Julius Naranjo taking over Gao’s post.
They are now looking for a new assistant coach to help Naranjo with his duties.
Sports psychologist Dr. Karen Trinidad and nutritionist Jeaneth Aro would most likely stay on.
Diaz plans to go back to Malaysia and set up camp there.
Four months is needed for Diaz to get ready for the International Weighlifting Federation-World Championships this November in Lima, Peru.
Diaz recently took a look at an Eastwood City condominium unit given to her as a gift by Megaworld Corporation for her golden feat in the Olympics. P
The fully-furnished two-bedroom P14-million condominium unit is located at the 47-story One Eastwood Avenue, a gift made available to her by businessman Andrew Tan.