Diaz eyes 2028 Olympics stint

Hidilyn Diaz’s quest for glory is far from over.

Diaz, the country’s first gold medalist in the Olympics, is determined to qualify and see action in the next Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Diaz, who served as an assistant coach for Rizal during the Batang Pinoy National Championships in Puerto Princesa City, said she still wants to compete in the women’s 59-kilogram division if everything goes according to plan.

The 33-year-old weightlifter fell short of qualifying for the Paris Games last July after 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist Elreen Ando emerged with a higher standing in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Olympic Qualification Rankings.

“There have been thoughts about retirement but for now, I want to compete in L.A.,” said Diaz, who will be 37 years old by the time the LA Games unwrap.

“I still want to go to L.A. but it depends on what happens two years before 2028 because that’s where the serious training for the Olympics is.”

The qualification for the weightlifting tournament in the Summer Games will be held two years before the actual competition.

Two major playdates are slated for 2025 for Diaz, starting with the IWF World Championships in Forde, Norway in October.

There is also the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, which will be held from 9 to 20 December. Diaz could challenge Ando for the gold medal after skipping the prestigious biennial meet last year in Cambodia.

In 2026, there’s the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan as she can improve from her fourth-place finish from the Hangzhou Games in China in 2023 after getting a total lift of 223 kgs.

Diaz will also be factoring how she will handle the intensity of her training in her decision whether or not she will continue with her plan to compete in the Olympics.

‘I’m already adapting my body to the weight but I won’t know it for sure until I undergo intense training,” Diaz said.