Now the country waits

Hidilyn Diaz’s tours of Philippine duty won’t be ending soon, but she can’t commit to the next Olympics yet. —FRANCIS T. J. OCHOA

This early, just a couple of weeks removed from her golden feat in Tokyo 2020, Hidilyn Diaz is already getting that feeling of deja vu.

“When I won the silver in 2016 [Rio de Janeiro Olympics], I got nervous when [Philippine Sports Commission] chair [Butch] Ramirez asked [me] to compete again in Tokyo. It’s the same feeling I’m having right now with Paris,’’ said Diaz as she answered questions on whether or not she would be willing to go through the same hard grind she went through going to Japan.

And it is but fair that she does a lot of soul-searching first before committing again—or not.

“I’m still thinking about it because it entails an additional three years of training and sacrifices,” said Diaz, whose hardship in training in Malaysia two years prior to the Games were well-documented, during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday. “The preparation was difficult. I want to know if my body can still do it,” she added.

Diaz will get some answers to her own questions when she takes part in three big events, starting with the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships on Nov. 1 in Lima, Peru, before shooting for gold in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand on March 10-20 and the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sept. 10-25 next year.

‘I will assess’

After that, everything, it seems, is still up in the air.

“I will assess again if I can still make the sacrifice [of going to Paris]. Is the mindset still there? Is the love to do it still there? If yes, I will go for it,’’ said the 30-year-old Diaz, the only Filipino who played in four Olympics and won silver and gold medals in the Games.

The sports heroine from Zamboanga City recalled the grueling road to Tokyo, training for 18 months in Malaysia away from her family due to the COVID-19 global health crisis.

“I should also consider if my coaches would be willing again to go through the same difficulties that we had experienced,’’ added Diaz, who guested at the weekly forum with fellow Tokyo Olympics medalists Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam of the national boxing team.

There will be slight changes, though, with Team HD, the support staff that helped Diaz accomplish the golden feat.

According to Diaz, strength and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo will be designated as head coach as Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen slides down as consultant. Psychologist Dr. Karen Trinidad and nutritionist Jeaneth Aro will remain with Team HD.

“My psychologist really helped me a lot. The stress and anxiety during my preparation and competition were high and Doc Karen made sure that I overcame these mental challenges,’’ said Diaz.

Like before Tokyo, when this nation waited with bated breath for Diaz to finally perform, everyone will be standing by to know what decision this dynamo will come up with. INQ