Have you heard the inspiring Hidilyn Diaz story?
She’s a weightlifter from the Philippines. I hadn’t heard of her until the Olympics.
One of the best things about the Games (beyond watching the amazing athletes in action) are the inspirational stories, don’t you agree?
Hidilyn’s story is one of my favorites.
She’s the weightlifter who became the first Olympic gold medalist from the Philippines—after starting her journey with homemade weights and training in makeshift gyms.
Talk about an underdog. Basically, everything was stacked against her.
Stories like hers are one of the best parts of the Olympics. They remind us what’s possible when you combine passion, grit, and determination—especially when the odds are stacked against you.
Let me tell you why Hidilyn’s story stopped me in my tracks and why it might just be the motivation you need to take that next step in your own health journey.
Table of Contents
The Hidilyn Diaz Story: How It Started
When Hidilyn was a teenager in Zamboanga City, she didn’t have fancy training equipment. In fact, she didn’t even have real weights.
So she used plastic pipes and concrete blocks as her weights, and later “graduated” to duffel bags stuffed with water jugs.
She would do pull-ups on door frames, sprint up parking ramps, and basically find any way she could to build strength using what she had on hand.
Her early training was 100% DIY, but she was all in.
The Long Road to the Olympics
Hidilyn made the Philippine Olympic team at just 17 years old, competing in the 2008 Beijing Games. She didn’t win a medal then, but she kept showing up, again in London in 2012, and then finally earning a silver medal in Rio in 2016.
But her biggest test came in 2020.
Just as she was about to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, a pandemic-related travel ban stranded her in Malaysia for 5 months. With no access to a proper training facility, she did what she always did, she adapted.
She built a training setup using bamboo sticks and water bottles, and turned a makeshift area into a gym.
The Gold Medal Moment
By the time she got to Tokyo Olympics, she was ready physically. But emotionally, she was nervous.
She had to get her head in the right place.
Her strategy? To let go of the “details” … like her recovery and strategy. She let her coaches handle all that. She trusted them and knew she was being guided in the right direction.
She focused only on the things SHE actually had control over.
“Let me focus on the things I can do,” she said.
“Which is for me: lift the weight, focus on my technique, and do everything I can do.”
And that’s exactly what she did.
She not only won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, she also set an Olympic record in the women’s 55kg weightlifting category, lifting a combined total of 224 kg (over 490 lbs).
What We Can Learn from the Hidilyn Diaz Story
The Hidilyn Diaz story is packed with powerful lessons:
- Start with what you have. You don’t need perfect equipment or the ideal situation to begin. Just begin. Don’t wait until everything’s perfect to begin.
- Stay consistent. Showing up, even with limited resources builds momentum. Work hard and be consistent … no matter what.
- Trust your support system. A great coach or community/support system is EVERYTHING to help you reach your goals.
- Focus on what’s in your control. Energy spent on the uncontrollable only drains you.
What’s Your Excuse?
It’s pretty simple when you boil it down and eliminate any obstacles that can get in your way.
If a young girl could begin her journey to the Olympics with plastic pipes and concrete blocks …
We can all take that first step towards our goals without any excuses.
Maybe it’s time to stop waiting.
Maybe it’s time to just start.
Ready to Build Your Own Olympic-Level Mindset?
Check out these resources to keep the momentum going:
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