More than the medals she delivered for the country, Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz values the chance to inspire the youth.

Diaz won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and that accomplishment provided her a stage to influence not just young weightlifters, but others who are hoping to do well in sports.

“Napamulat din ako na akala ko puro medal lang ito, ‘pag manalo ka sa Olympics, medal lang (It was an eye-opener because I thought it was about winning medals),” Diaz told the new online talk show Brewed Awakening by Kick-Start Coffee on Monday.

“Pero you the have responsibility to the future generation. Doon ko na-realize yung responsibility ko as an Olympic athlete (But you have the responsibility to the future generation. That’s when I realized my responsibility as an Olympic athlete).”

Diaz, 30, is aiming for her fourth straight Olympic appearance after stints in the last three.

Her victory in the Rio Olympics was the country’s first medal in 20 years, since boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco won a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Diaz said she decided to pursue a fourth Olympic berth because she believes that winning gold is achievable.

“Maraming nagtatanong kung bakit andito pa din. May pinaglalaban ako, kasi alam ko kaya nating manalo sa Olympics (There were lots of questions why I’m still here. I’m fighting for something, I know we can win in the Olympics),” said Diaz.

“Saka kung mag-give up ako at this time of pandemic hindi maganda as inspiration and influence to our youth (If I give mag give up now this time of pandemic, it’s now good as inspiration and influence to our youth).”

Diaz and her HD Team are currently in Malacca, Malaysia. They have been there for a year now training, initially for the Asian Championship last April, but because of the lockdown due to COVID-19, they decided to stay there and continue preparing for the Tokyo Olympics.

Diaz still needs to compete in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament to complete the required numbers of six. She already participated in five and she is currently No. 2 in the 55kg women’s world ranking.

The weightlifting federation is looking at the Asian Championship on April 15 to 25 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

“Kailangan ko lang maglaro ng isa pa (to qualify). Kailangan ko din ng tune up because more than one year ako walang competition (I just need to participate in one OQT). I also need it as tune up because I didn't compete for more than a year,” she said.

The last tournament of Diaz was the 2020 World Cup in Rome, Italy January last year where she bagged three gold medals.