By MARK REY MONTEJO
There are plenty of words to describe how special July 26 is for Olympic weightlifter and Philippine sports icon Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo.
For one, it was the day, specifically four years ago, the 34-year-old Diaz delivered the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the Philippines – ending a 97-year quest — after ruling the women’s 55kg weightlifting class at Tokyo Games.
And the following year, she and her coach Julius Irvin Naranjo tied the knot at the St. Ignatius Chapel inside the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio.
Two years passed, the couple embarked on a new path as they built the HD Weightlifting Academy to give aspiring lifters a boost, especially the ones who are hoping to become like Hidilyn, a debutant in 2002 Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, in the future.
It was indeed a very special day for Diaz-Naranjo that she penned her delight and gratitude on a social media post.
“Today holds so much meaning as I celebrate three milestones: winning the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, our third wedding anniversary with my coach and husband @imjulius , and the first anniversary of @hdweightliftingacademy,” Diaz-Naranjo wrote.
“These moments remind me of how strong Filipinos are, that winning [gold is possible] and how God used my journey to inspire others, especially during the difficult times when the pandemic hit,” she added.
She also expressed her love to her husband Julius as they continue their mission of lending their hands and being an inspiration to the young athletes.
“I’m grateful to share a purposeful life with Julius. Through HDWLA, we continue to pass on our love and knowledge in weightlifting, helping athletes believe in themselves and lift more than just weights,” Diaz-Naranjo continued.
“We’re proud to celebrate HDWLA’s first year, a year of empowering athletes to rise not just in sport, but in life as they work toward reaching their dreams,” she concluded. “Today also reminds me of how far I’ve come as an athlete and as a Filipino. And it encourages me to keep growing so I can uplift even more Filipinos through sports.”
Last month, Diaz-Naranjo, a two-time Olympic medalist, made her comeback in the women’s 63kg category of the 2025 SWP National Weightlifting Championships held in Dumaguete City.
She settled for a silver medal in that competition but it proved enough to fire up her desire even more for a big comeback as she wants to make the LA Olympics her ‘Last Dance.’
