Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo inspires the youth to fulfill their dreams of becoming a huge sporting superstar like her.
This was the short message of Naranjo during the opening of the National Weightlifting Open Category at the Saulog Gymnasium on Aug. 10, 2022 and ends on Aug. 12, 2022.
She said the national open serves as the vital stepping stone for aspiring weightlifting athletes, which was the stepping stone that catapulted her to become the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist.
“Galingan natin sa larong ito. Give our best,” she told the aspiring athletes.
Moreover, Naranjo added that if she made it, no doubt there will be others who will become sporting superstars as long as they work hard in training and continue to practice discipline and focus to become a great athlete.
“Kung nakaya ko, kaya nyo rin. Basta you need to dream high,” she said in a short speech at the Saulog gymnasium.
Laranjo arrived in Bohol for the national open to inspire the budding weightlifting athletes who could bring glory to the Philippines someday.
The Olympic gold medalist also provided advice to Boholana weightlifting prodigy Vanessa Sarno not to be frustrated and to continue pursuing the dream of becoming a huge sporting superstar.
Naranjo told Sarno to look for people who could help the latter’s performance and overcome training challenges.
“Not to give up, yun ang advice ko sa kanya [Sarno],” Diaz said in an interview with the media.
Sarno, who traces her roots in Dauis and in Tagbilaran City, is being groomed to be Diaz’s heir apparent and to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, Naranjo shared that she is gunning to make an appearance at the Paris Olympics and is not entertaining thoughts of retiring anytime before the next Olympiad.