Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines' first Olympic gold medallist, did not qualify for a return to the Olympics in Paris this year.
According to Filipino news outlets, she notched 99 kilograms for snatch and 123 kilograms for clean and jerk, putting her total at 222 kilograms. However, she did not reach the top 10 at the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, last week.
In a Facebook post following the news, Diaz thanked the people who believed in her and shared that she does not want to be defined by fame, money, and competition but instead defines her "forever" as "God, family, and real friends."
"Winning is not everything; It is being on the platform and taking on the challenges that give inspiration to other athletes," the Filipino weightlifter added. "Thank you to the athletes who messaged me and said that I inspired them. I served and will continue to serve my purpose in weightlifting, as I inspire many athletes to dream high, take the challenge, and work hard to achieve their dreams and never give up."
Diaz, who recently married her coach, Julius Naranjo, stated that she would spend her free time with her friends and family and "learn new skills," particularly cooking and baking, which she admitted she had wanted to do since she was 22.
She added, "I will also learn to do business and invest myself in education to be a better sports leader. I have a lot of things to learn in life."
In an immediate response to Diaz's failure to qualify for the Paris Games, Philippine Olympic Committee chief Abraham Tolentino consoled the weightlifter after seeing her name outside the top 10 Olympic qualifiers for her weight division, the Manila Times reported.
"You're still the queen," he told Diaz. "You are still our champion, you deserve all the honor and respect for giving our country its first gold medal."
Diaz made her Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008. She also qualified for the London Games in 2012 but was officially given a "did not finish" result.
During her career to date, Diaz has won six gold medals, four silvers, and five bronzes, including her Olympic silver in Rio in 2016 and the Philippines' first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021.
Filipino sports fans and pundits have speculated about Diaz's future, given her recent marriage and the possibility of her joining her husband in coaching future weightlifters, some of whom qualified for the Paris Olympics later this year.
Whatever the opinion, most Filipinos agree that Diaz has nothing more to prove and are looking forward to her enjoying her private family life.
