NAGOYA – Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz believes the future is bright for weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos after he found success in his Asian Games debut.
Diaz was in attendance when Delos Santos clinched silver at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games last December.
The Olympic weightlifter was also present when Delos Santos bagged bronze in the men's 70kg final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
The 20-year-old weightlifter is also being coached by Julius Naranjo, Diaz's husband.
As Diaz continues to be a witness to the growth and success of Delos Santos, she believes the young athlete is the future of Philippine weightlifting.
"Si Ian isa sa mga future natin na... Olympian gold medalist para sa Pilipinas sa weightlifting. Dahil makita nyo naman, world junior record holder, then nanalo siya dito at 20 years old na kakaapak niya lang pa sa Asian Games, eh nanalo na siya ng medal," Diaz told POC Media.
The Asian Games gold medalist described Delos Santos as the braver of the two but sees a shared trait in their determination to chase their goals.
"Kakaiba talaga si Ian. Hindi ko siya ma-describe na parehas na sa akin kasi sobrang tapang ni Ian. Siguro parehas kami sa goal-driven. So, kung gustong buhatin, bubuhatin talaga. So, yun yung nakikita ko kay Ian na same siguro kami. Pero ibang level si Ian. Lakas talaga yun," she shared.
After celebrating Delos Santos' Asian Games achievement, his team will get back to work as the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begins soon.
"Yun ang tinatrabaho ni Ian, tinatrabaho ng team niya na ma-qualify sa LA. Kasi talaga naman nakikita natin sa by numbers, by data, and by na effort na binibigay niya sa training," she said.
Diaz, a four-time Summer Olympian, said Delos Santos still has plenty of work ahead, stressing just how difficult it is to earn a spot on the sporting world’s biggest stage.
"Sinabi ko sa kanya yung reality, na Ian medyo malayo pa tayo para sa Olympics. Kaya kailangan doble trabaho tayo. And then, senior na kasi, so ibang level ang senior. So sinabi ko sa kanya na ibang level pag Olympics, kailangan mong mas sobra pa yung effort mo dito. Then yung pressure mataas," she shared.
"So para lang ma-kwan na yung proseso doon, ay mahirap to. So para hindi na madali na mag-Olympics? Hindi. Mahirap mag-Olympics pero kung gusto mo, kayang-kaya," the Olympic gold medalist said.
Diaz also shared her advice for Delos Santos, which applies beyond the Asian Games.
"Sinabi ko kay Ian, enjoy it na lang. Kasi nandoon na siya, nakapag-prepare na siya. Kasi minsan si Ian din sobrang gigil. So kailangan niya mag-relax, then enjoy. So yun yung sinabi ko sa kanya," she said.
Delos Santos is the only Filipino weightlifter so far who has clinched a medal in the 2026 Asian Games.