Hidalyn Diaz on Staying for Tokyo Olympics: "I Know We Can Win"

March is known as International Women's month and Migs Bustos had the perfect guest for Monday's episode of Kick-Start Brewed Awakening: 2016 Summer Olympics silver medalist, Hidalyn Diaz.

Due to the ongoing 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Filipina weightlifter and her team have been stuck in Malaysia for more than a year as the pandemic forced cancelations of sporting events and that, governments have to impose travel restrictions. Fortunately for Diaz who is on the road towards her fourth and possibly last Olympic hurrah,  Filipinos in Malaysia are there to help.

"The truth is, we are able to adjust here because there are Filipinos here too who help us. They give up tips on where to buy Filipino food," she shared.

Diaz also took a stroll down memory lane as she looked back to her 13-year career as a weightlifter that started out of curiosity. Initially, weightlifting served as an opportunity for Diaz and her family. "At first, I want to become a weightlifter because it gives me the opportunity to study, to travel, and to be able to help my family,"

Eventually, that feeling of the sport as an opportunity gradually transformed into a sense of responsibility as a woman who has competed in the Olympics in a sport that is predominated by men. And that sense of responsibility is the very reason why she is still here on the road to her fourth Olympics and yet, there are still asking her: "Why are you still here?"

Her response: "Because I have something to fight for. I'm still here because I know we can win in the Olympics. And I will give up during this time, it will not be good as an inspiration to our youth,"

"I'm still here because I believe God has a purpose," she concluded. 

Screenshot is from Kick-Start Coffee Brewed Awakening Facebook page