This day in Edwardian Sports History: First Filipina to win an Olympic medal visited St. Edward School

The Estoile Elementary News Team

Four years ago today, Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal and who recently bagged three gold medals to dominate the 55-kilogram women’s division in the 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in Rome, Italy, visited St. Edward School (SES) during its celebration of Sports Fest in 2017.

Diaz now advocates women empowerment as she urges the sports community to sustain its support of Filipina athletes in representing the country in various tournaments.

Her message to Edwardians is still relevant today as athletes continue to find a place and a platform to continue their love for the sports. Read the throwback article below published by The Estoile which won as one of the best sports pages in the Philippines during the National Schools Press Conference 2018.

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MAKE WEIGHTLIFTING A HABIT

Hidilyn Diaz inspires Edwardian Athletes

SPORTS

The first Filipina to win an Olympic medal, Hidilyn Diaz, encouraged Edwardians to learn weightlifting by putting it into practice every day as she shared her story of victory during the Sports Fest 2017 at St. Edward School (SEIS).

In her speech, the Olympian shared how she started to develop love for weightlifting despite training even only by herself.

“Maraming beses na wala akong coach ‘nung nagsisimula pa lang ako sa weightlifting. I learned to train all by myself. Mahirap pero inisip ko ang family ko,” Diaz said.

“Wala nang ibang makakapag motivate sa atin [kung hindi] ang ating mga sarili. Magsimula kang magbuhat para tumibay ang katawan at resistensya kahit anong sports meron ka,” added the Olympic medalist.

Furthermore, Diaz shared how she had been helping her father in cleaning his tricycle while studying and training at the same time when she was young.

“Pinagsasabay ko noon na tulungan ang tatay ko sa paglilinis ng tricycle, pagpasok sa school, at pagsama sa mga pinsan ko sa pagbubuhat. Dun ako nasanay,” said Diaz.

Meanwhile, SES awarded the silver medalist a plaque of recognition for “inspiring young Edwardian athletes to love sports” and for her contribution to the country as a winner in the Rio Olympics in August 2016.

Hidilyn Diaz is the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal after 20 years by clinching the silver medal in the 53-kilogram weightlifting competition.

Even after winning in the Olympics on August 2016, Hidilyn Diaz consistently lifts weight as her training at Philippine Sports Commision training center. School’s resident sports coach Alvin Amposta invited Diaz to grace school’s Sports Fest 2017.