After making history, Diaz wants to mentor young weightlifters

MANILA, Philippines – If you ask Hidilyn Diaz if she'd want to improve her silver medal Olympic conquest in weightlifting, you'd probably get a disappointing answer.
Well, that is, depending on where you stand.

For someone overly competitive, the sky's the limit. And Diaz's answer might disappoint you.

However, for someone who leans toward the greater good of Philippine sports, the Zamboanga-born athlete's take couldn't be more of a good news.

Speaking to CNN shortly after her historic Olympic silver medal finish, Diaz said she's still unsure of what happens next.

"Gusto ko, heto na 'yung huli, pero hindi ko talaga masabi [kung] anong mangyayari after this, kasi mahal na mahal ko ang weigh  tlifting," she said.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba kayang iwanan. Hindi ko talaga masabi," the three-time Olympian added.

While things remain vague for her career, Diaz sounded determined to do one thing: to share her experiences to better the athlete's training program.

"Nasa peak na ako eh," she said. "Gusto ko i-share yung mga natutunan ko sa mga bata ... I need to share it to other people."

PH grabs first olympic medal after 20 years by philstarnews

Diaz also bared in the same interview that her career has come full circle, and that she has grown so much in the course of three Olympic games.

"'Yung experience ng Olympics kasi, nung bata ka, 'di mo ma-appreciate talaga," she said. "'Yung 2012... pangarap 'yun ng coach ko. Heto kasi pangarap ko talaga. Yung mga failures ko nung last Olympics yung mga reason ko to push myself to 2016."

Diaz, according to a report by SPIN.ph, is set to rake in P5 million in incentives, as guaranteeed by Republic Act 10699 or National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act passed by the Aquino government in 2015.

But that cash prize is expected to swell as fellow Mindanaoan in Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has increased an Olympian's allowance from USD 1,000 to 3,000.

Looming brand endorsements could likewise boost that hefty payday.

Check out the top images from Diaz's silver-winning Olympic stint courtesy of the Associated Press:

 

– Denison Rey A. Dalupang