Newly- wed Hidilyn Diaz bares postponement of honeymoon as she prepares for her #LastLift in the 2024 Paris Olympics
Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo announced her possible last push for the Games in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics in what she described as her #LastLift.
Posting a photo of her calloused hands on her Facebook, Diaz wrote a letter to the sport that changed her life and all the Philippine sports history, saying that she is already preparing for the upcoming Olympics, which will be held in 2 years.
"Dear Weightlifting, We are officially 2 years to go before I step onto the platform at the #2024parisolympics . I am manifesting this because this is what I want to do. It is my choice to go for my #LastLift and #TeamHD will be with me throughout the whole process. I am claiming this, for the love of God and our Country," she wrote.
Diaz, who recently got married to her coach, Julius Naranjo, on the anniversary of her win in the women's 55kg category at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, also said she is postponing their honeymoon to prepare for the Olympics.
"These hands are a reminder that despite all I have accomplished, I am still working my hardest for our Country. I am putting aside my honeymoon, and most things that make me happy because even though I don’t need to prove anything, I want to do more for #weightlifting and the #youthweightlifters who are starting to do well in our country," she wrote.
Her official announcement regarding her possible retirement came after Samahang Weightlifting Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella, one of her wedding godfathers, said that she deserves to be happy and focus on herself and the new family that she is trying to build.
Lastly, Diaz also pointed out that the day marked her sixth year of winning the silver in 2016 Rio Olympics.
"I can still remember how magical that day was, how God surprised me with a silver medal when I was just aiming for a bronze, it was one of the proudest moments of my life. [And] I am determined to do more for our country," she said.
"Sincerely, Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo OLY,” she ended the post.
Tags: #Olympics, #weightlifting, #Paris