By Waylon Galvez
For the first time in almost three months, Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz got the chance to practice in a modern facility as she returned to regular training after the government of Malaysia eased its health protocols for coronavirus.
Diaz, silver medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics, said that she is now training at the Kuala Lumpur State Weightlifting Gym after working out at a parking lot with DIY or ‘do it yourself’ equipment like water gallons.
“Nakabalik na sa weightlifting gym,” said Diaz in a text message Thursday night as her team was allowed at the KL’s weightlifting training facility last June 15.
“Ito yun gym na pinuntahan namin after lockdown, tapos dahil mahigpit sila dito nung April, hindi na kami pumunta kasi malapit na kami mahuli,” Diaz added in jest on the situation they were in.
It was on March 19 when Malaysia enforced the ‘lockdown’ due to COVID-19 spread, and according to Diaz, her team – as well as other weightlifters – had to vacate KL’s Bukit Posa Training Center.
That was when Diaz, together with of Chinese mentor Kaiwen Gao, strength/condition coach Julius Naranjo and massage therapist Belen Bañas stayed at an AirBNB.
Diaz said they still stay at an AirBNB, and her team takes Grab taxi going to the training facility.
“Pwede na three passengers sa Grab. Dati kasi isa lang (allowed) at di pwede lumabas si coach Gao (being a senior citizen already). Ngayon medyo back to normal na, kailangan lang sundin ang SOP,” said Diaz.
Diaz is in KL since late February to train for the Asian Championship, which had been cancelled due to the health crisis. She needs to participate in one event to earn a spot in the Tokyo Olympics – which was earlier moved to next year.
At the gym, Diaz said they are following strict health protocols.
“Five lang kami sa gym na puwedeng mag-training, hindi puwede na marami. Then after training kailangan sanitized ang barbell,” said Diaz, adding that they continue to wear facemask all the time.
As for plans to return home, Diaz said they are still contemplating on things.
“Sa ngayon stay muna dito hintayin namin mag-open ang border for foreigner and kailangan namin i-plano paano ang pagbalik,” said Diaz, gold medalist in January’s Roma World Cup, the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games here.
