Hidilyn Diaz. Photo from Diaz/Instagram
MANILA – Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo sees teaching at the University of the Philippines Diliman as a stepping stone in her goal to integrate the sport in Philippine education.
Diaz is currently teaching two PE 2 sections in weightlifting in the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics.
The 35-year-old is happy to see more interest in weightlifting among students and the general public.
"Masaya to see the result na maraming interested na matuto ng weightlifting sa UP. And I'm happy na na-spread kong weightlifting sa UP because it will multiply. Kasi nga alam naman natin na yung standard ng UP pag dating sa education," Diaz told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview on Monday.
"So I'm happy that I learned how to spread the sports through academe. So ngayon, [I'm] hoping na mas maraming magka-interest about weightlifting... At the end of the day, that's my goal. That's why I teach weightlifting sa UP," she added.
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Diaz emphasized one of her main goals as a first-time lecturer is to share her knowledge and experience in weightlifting.
The Olympic gold medalist hopes to continue teaching, after getting her feet wet in the second semester of A.Y. 2025-2026.
"Yes, continuous 'to ang pagtuturo ko sa UP. Para hindi lang siya one, one, alam mo yung my experience lang. But of course, I want to continue learning sa UP and continue to spread the sports. Kasi after nito, what's next?," Diaz shared.
"Kasi hindi lang naman ang UP ang nangangailangan na matuto about weightlifting. So, ang daming schools na pwedeng ma-spread ng weightlifting," she shared.
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While weightlifting is already among the events in Palarong Pambansa, Diaz hopes to see the sport included in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
"Hoping nasa NCAA, UAAP, and hoping din na nasa PE curriculum na. Kasi with weightlifting, kung mas maraming makakadiskubre about weightlifting, mas accessible siya. So mas maraming ma-appreciate kung gaano kaganda ang weightlifting," Diaz said.
"And I'm happy na as a gold medalist na ma-spread ko ang importansya ng weightlifting sa buhay ko, sa buhay nila. So I'm happy to see that," she added.
Aside from teaching others, the Olympic gold medalist herself seeks to continue developing herself by learning about sports as a leader.
Diaz is currently a member of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Athlete Commission.
"Hindi naman ako forever athlete. Maging sports leader ako. At the end of the day, kung maging sports leader ako, ano yung fundamental na values or foundation na kailangan kong matutunan as a sports leader," she shared.
"Yes, I have the knowledge of being an athlete.... But I need to learn a lot of things also. Para mas lalo kong ma-spread and natutunan ko sa weightlifting, hoping na mas lalo akong matuto kung paano gumawa ng policy for the athletes and for the sports," Diaz added.