Athlete Hidilyn Diaz: ‘Avert from failures, seek for purpose’
Athlete Hidilyn Diaz speaks about overcoming adversity through faith at the Philippine Conference on New Evangelization at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, July 19, 2018. PHOTO FROM PCNE
By Joselle Dela Cruz
July 22, 2018
Manila, Philippines
Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz urged people and co-athletes not to focus on the failures and pains in life but to seek for the purpose that God has given.
“Para sa akin natural ang masaktan, natural na may nararamdaman tayong lungkot. Magtiwala kayo kay God na may purpose para gamitin natin ‘yun as learning para rin ma-encourage natin ‘yung ibang tao,” Diaz said on the third day of Philippine Conference on New Evangelization at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
“That time din [nagsimula] ‘yung journey ko with God kasi nakilala ko si God personally, natuto na akong mag-pray,” she said.
The Filipina weightlifter had a knee-injury in 2014 and was not able to join in competitions.
Diaz said that it was in “emptiness” that she discovered where her faith and purpose in life is.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yung purpose ko sa buhay, kung bakit ako nasa weightlifting. Ginamit ko ‘yun para ma-encorage ‘yung ibang atleta,” she said.
“Parte ng pagiging atleta na ma-injury kayo, matalo kayo, parte rin ng pagiging atleta ang manalo. Kailangang paniwalaan si God, kailangan niyong paniwalaan ang sarili niyo,” added Diaz.
She also pointed out that listening to other people really helped her in her journey.
“Natuto akong makinig sa iba’t ibang tao, ang daming taong nag-eencourage sa akin kahit sa proseso ng training, minsan hindi parating maganda ang training, minsan pagod na pagod ka na, burnt out ka na pero kailangan kasi may pangarap ka,” she said.
“Marami akong nakilalang iba’t ibang tao na nakatulong sa akin, nagbigay ng wisdom about sport science, sport psychology,” Diaz also said.
The Philippines got its first Olympic medal since 1996 with Diaz. She is also the first ever Filipino woman to win a medal in the Olympics.
Diaz will compete in Asian Games in Indonesia in August this year.