It's hard to imagine that a champion and world-class athlete once was full of self-doubt.
Insecurity and Olympic gold medal don’t seem to go together.
Think about it. How can an Olympic champion be insecure?
But, believe it or not, Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz, who gave the Philippines its first and to date only gold in the Olympiad at the 2020 Tokyo Games, was once full of insecurities.
And on Monday, the quadrennial meet’s official Instagram page looked back on Diaz’s inspiring Olympic story that saw her deal with insecurity—until she ultimately overcame it in grand, golden fashion.
The video, aptly titled “Overcoming Insecurity,” began with shots of Diaz’s lifts in the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympics.
“Hidilyn Diaz never let the haters stop her from achieving her Olympic goals! 🥇” The post's caption said.
The video then goes on to narrate Diaz’s inspiring story with short videos of the affable Olympian in training and in competition.
“Hard work and intense training brought Hidilyn Diaz to the Olympic stage at Beijing 2008,” the video said through caption. “Though she began seeing success, she still struggled with self-confidence.”
Evidently, Diaz was being mocked for her physique—stocky, muscular, unique.
Diaz herself admitted as much, saying that she got insecure with her body and herself for doing weightlifting.
“She took the negative comments from others about her body and used it as fuel to win silver at Rio 2016,” the video continued. “Then, she went on to win the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines at Tokyo 2020 and set a new Olympic record.”
The video ends with a shot of Diaz’s final golden lift in Tokyo and a final reminder of redemption.
“Now, the very sport people mocked her for has brought her both love and success.”
Watch the inspiring video here:
Vindicated, adored, and loved, Diaz isn’t stopping anytime soon. And as she sets her sights on the Paris Olympics next year, best believe there won’t be any self-doubt anymore.
(GM)