Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, April 15, 2025: Hidilyn Diaz made history as the Philippines’ first Olympic champion – in weightlifting at Tokyo 2020.
On Tuesday morning, Diaz was a champion once again at the second OCA Gender Equity Seminar at the Empire Brunei.
Her inspiring and moving life story – from being one of six children to parents living on the modest wages of a humble tricycle driver in Zamboanga City to Olympic champion and national hero - was frequently interrupted by rounds of applause from the delegates.
Hidilyn, now 34, charmed the audience with her fight to the top and the challenges she faced along the way - even from her own mother who wanted her to do household chores and not build up her muscles through weightlifting.
At the end of her presentation, she stressed the importance of giving girls and women the chance to excel – “from nothing to champion” – and give them hopes and dreams of reaching the top as sports leaders.
“I am the bi-product of your policies and decisions,” she said. “It is because of you guys that I was able to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games – and you are part of this gold medal.”
Diaz has appeared in four Olympic Games – at Beijing 2008 as a wild card, at London 2012, when she did not finish, at Rio 2016 when she won the silver medal and finally at Tokyo with her historic gold medal at women’s 55kg.
Her presentation included a moving video of her key lifts on the way to gold in Tokyo – and she was quick to praise her Malaysian hosts who took care of her during the covid pandemic when she could not go home to her family in the Philippines.
Hidilyn, who arrived in Brunei after competing in an invitational weightlifting competition in Australia, spoke of her efforts to promote weightlifting throughput the 17 regions of the Philippines and also as co-founder of the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy. She is also a member of the International Weightlifting Federation Executive Board, enabling her to put her experiences as an athlete to good use at the highest level.
Entitled “Raise the Bar by Lifting Others”, her presentation revealed that she felt “shame” for her family and country when she did not finish at London 2012 and admitted she cried for two weeks. However, thanks to the support and encouragement of her team, she kept going and bounced back, first with silver at Rio and finally gold at Tokyo.
“I realized that it was not just a medal – it was a responsibility,” she said, as she was aware that she was now a role model for athletes and youngsters around the country.
No doubt about it, Hidilyn Diaz was a champion again – at the second OCA Gender Equity Seminar.
