Hidilyn Diaz: “Sa totoo lang, [noong] ‘yung olympics na-postpone, syempre, umiiyak talaga ako.”
HIDILYN DIAZ – The country’s first gold medalist became open about her “mental breakdown” ahead of the Olympics.
Diaz made history as the first-ever Filipino to bag a gold medal in the Olympics in the recently concluded women’s 55-kg weightlifting event.
The country’s pride finished with a total score of 224 kg defeating China’s Liao Qiuyun.
The 30-year-old weightlifter from Zamboanga ended the near century-long Olympic gold medal drought of the country since it competed in 1924.
In an interview with ANC, she turned emotional while recalling her “mental breakdown.”
“Sa totoo lang, [noong] ‘yung olympics na-postpone, syempre, umiiyak talaga ako,” Hidilyn said.
“Tapos, syempre ‘yung coaches ko naaawa, pero good thing nandiyan sila pinakinggan nila ako at sinabi nila sa ‘kin na, we’ll stay, we will support you, we will be here. Malaking bagay ‘yun sakin,” she added.
“Umiiyak ako kasi nga ‘yun ‘yung down time moment ko. Kasi ilang beses akong nag-prepare din. Good thing hindi nila ako iniwan. Malaking bagay ‘yun para sa ‘kin kasi, kung wala sila, baka hindi ko ma-survive ‘yung doon,” she stressed.
She also thanked her “Team HD” especially her team psychologist, Dr. Karen Katrina Trinidad, for giving useful advice before the competition.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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