For the first time in two years, weightlifting will be held when the 65th Palarong Pambansa fires off at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte in May.

Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, made the announcement, saying that she is thrilled to see her sport making its return as a demonstration event in the biggest and most prestigious multi-sport tourney for students in the elementary and high school levels.

Diaz has been batting for the inclusion of weightlifting in the Palarong Pambansa.

She started her career at the grassroots level, but with no weightlifting in the annual Palarong Pambansa, she had to harness her skills in other age-group events like Batang Pinoy until qualifying in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

When she clinched the silver meal in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she reiterated her call, stressing that there are a lot of promising young lifters in various provinces waiting to be tapped and developed.

“It started as a dream, and finally, weightlifting is included as a demonstration sport in the Palarong Pambansa. I have long hoped for my sport to once again be part of the biggest national sporting event for student-athletes in the Philippines,” Diaz said.

“The technical working group and I are doing our best, working hard on this, and hoping it will soon become a regular sport.”

Diaz has been working hard for weightlifting to become the country’s source of gold medals in major international events.

To contribute to its development, Diaz and her husband Julius Naranjo opened the HD Weightlifting Academy in Jalajala town in Rizal in 2023 to help hone the next generation of weightlifters.

Now, a lot of young lifters have emerged successful in the international arena like Olympians Elreen Ando, Vanessa Sarno, John Ceniza as well as promising stars like Rosegie Ramos, Lovely Inan, Rosalinda Faustina and Prince Kiel delos Santos.