What was initially a short training trip in Malaysia became a long one due to the lockdown. And staying there for training until leaving for the Tokyo Olympics 2021 has led Hidilyn Diaz to forge many strong bonds while abroad.
Aside from the coaches and the team that Diaz has been with, she was also taken cared of by her foster family in Kampung Kesang Tua where she stayed for more than a year.
According to the news site Bernama, 50-year-old Ahmad Janius Abdullah's family took her in. Coincidientally, he is also the deputy president of the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF). He proudly talked about "Hidi," saying that she would make sure that every training equipment and the facility is in good condition. “She always says that she wants to win the Olympic gold medal and she diligently undergoes her training routine from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm daily, apart from focusing on her studies at night,” he told Bernama.
He also mentioned that Hidi is very disciplined, even measuring her food intake. Proof that he was able to spend a lot of time with our very own Olympic gold medalist. He also got to bring Hidi and her team to the airport as the team headed for Tokyo last July 18.
“My relationship with Hidi is like that of a father and daughter. Although she calls me ‘sir’, I always ensure that all her needs in the house are sufficient. I also advised her to do her best in the snatch discipline as that’s her weakness. I’m glad she took it seriously and performed excellently to bag the gold,” he told reporters. He is grateful that Hidi thanked him and the rest of the people in Malaysia for taking care of her.