KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

No honeymoon, no problem for newly-wed and Tokyo Games hero Hidilyn Diaz as she intends to make another shot at glory in the 2024 Paris Games.

In a social media post, Diaz said she wants to feel the magical feeling once again and that can only happy when she competes for the country in what could be her swan song to a distinguished career highlighter by her historic gold-medal feat at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – the country’s first gold in history.

“Itabi muna natin ang honeymoon, we only have 730 days left. Kahit mahirap, even though I do not need to prove anything, gusto ko pa rin gawin ang lahat ng makakaya ko para sa weightlifting sa Pilipinas,” wrote Diaz, who recently wed Naranjo – her long-time boyfriend and trainer.

Diaz also said Monday marked six years since she had won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and reminisced that “magical day” when she said she was just aiming for a bronze.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella, who was also one of Diaz’s wedding godfathers, had earlier advised she could focus on her family.

But Diaz said the urge to make people proud and happy with the sport she excelled in remains intense as ever.

“Ito ang gusto ko at weightlifting ang nagpapasaya sa akin,” she wrote.

She encouraged her fans to support her in her final journey.

“Samayang ninyo ako sa aking desisyon to go for my #LastLift. Team HD will be with me throughout the whole process pero kailangan ko ang suporta at dasal ninyong lahat,” she wrote.

“I am determined to do more for our country.”