Philippine silver medallist at the Rio Olympics, Hidilyn Diaz shows her medal during a press conference as she arrives at the Manila International Airport in Manila on August 11, 2016.
Diaz is the country’s first Olympic winner in 20 years. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
Hidilyn Diaz is not yet done.
Upon arriving in the Philippines on Thursday, Diaz said she does not plan to retire from weightlifting after winning the silver medal in the 53-kilogram category of the weightlifting competition in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Parang ayoko pang mag-retire,” Diaz said in the press conference at the CIP Lounge of NAIA Terminal 3.
“Ngayon pa nga lang na-mi-miss ko na magbuhat.”
Diaz was the first female Filipino athlete to win a medal in the Olympics, in turn ending the country’s two-decade podium drought.
Diaz was only in Manila for a few hours as she proceeded to Davao to pay a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Excited na akong ipakita kay President Digong ang medal,” said the Zamboanga native.
Diaz may be the talk of the Philippine sporting world after her heroics in the Rio Olympics, but the 25-year-old said she’s still not used to all the attention as well wishers swarmed her as soon as she touched down at NAIA.
“Sobrang shocked ako kasi di ako sanay sa ganito karaming tao,” said Diaz./rga