Dannyka Manangan

Hidilyn Diaz celebrates three meaningful milestones this month

Article (news)

E. Kristhoff Cagape

Push Team

<p>Hidilyn Diaz celebrated several meaningful milestones, including the fifth anniversary of her historic victory as the Philippines&#x27; first Olympic gold medalist.</p><p>In an Instagram post, the weightlifting champion reflected on the moment that made history for the country.</p><p>&quot;Happy 5th anniversary sa atin sa first gold medal natin sa Olympics- ang bilis ng panahon! Salamat sa pagkakataon binalikan ko ang pagpapanalo ko sa Olympics. Napakaproud maging Filipino!&quot; she posted on her Instagram page on Sunday, July 26.</p><p>Hidilyn won the women&#x27;s 55-kilogram weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, securing the Philippines&#x27; first Olympic gold medal.</p><p>She also marked her fourth wedding anniversary with her husband and weightlifting coach Julius Naranjo.</p><p>&quot;Happy 4th anniversary, samin ni @imjulius - Salamat ❤️ for choosing me every day, and so grateful to have you in my life. I love you and I pray to God for us every day,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbQwcbAGuEA/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3520056.4000000004%2C%22ls%22%3A350507.80000000005%2C%22le%22%3A350515.3999999999%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="567" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>At the same time, the Olympic champion celebrated the second anniversary of the HD Weightlifting Academy, which she established with Julius to help develop young athletes.</p><p>&quot;Happy 2nd anniversary, @hdweightliftingacademy - it’s a very ambitious dream with my husband but a very fulfilling one to see young athletes realize their dream through weightlifting,&quot; she remarked.</p><p>Hidilyn added that building the academy had become an important part of her personal and professional growth.</p><p>&quot;I’m thankful for the learning and experiences we’ve gained building the academy. We will have more exciting news and activities soon. Part of my growth as an athlete, lecturer, wife, furmom, and businesswoman,&quot; she stated.</p><p>She also shared how she celebrated these various milestones in her life.</p><p>&quot;We celebrate this beautiful day by cooking and serving our friends and family,&quot; she stated.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/5/13/hidilyn-diaz-sees-teaching-in-up-as-stepping-stone-to-integrating-weightlifting-in-ph-education-2111"><strong>READ: Hidilyn Diaz sees teaching in UP as stepping stone to integrating weightlifting in PH education</strong></a></div><p>Back in May, Hidilyn marked another chapter in her professional journey when she became a teacher in weightlifting in the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics.  </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m happy that I learned how to spread the sport through academe. So ngayon, [I&#x27;m] hoping na mas maraming magka-interest about weightlifting... At the end of the day, that&#x27;s my goal. That&#x27;s why I teach weightlifting sa UP,&quot; she shared in a previous interview with ABS-CBN News. </p>

<p>Hidilyn Diaz recently marked three significant milestones, including the fifth anniversary of her historic achievement as the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist.</p>

Hidilyn Diaz recently marked three significant milestones, including the fifth anniversary of her historic achievement as the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist.