Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz is now back in Malaysia in an effort to repeat her success at the 2020 Olympics.
The gold medalist, who previously trained in Malaysia for the Olympics, recently posted several photos of her returning to her garage-turned-gymnasium at her foster family’s home in Kampung Kesang Tua in Jasin, Malacca.
“Back to basic,” she posted. “Back to #Weightlifting, back to Malaysia, back to Garage Gym, back to Diet.”
Hidilyn will be training for the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships, which will be held from 7th to 17th December in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
It is noted that the weightlifter was originally training in Kuala Lumpur for the Olympics before she and her trainers were stuck in the country due to the movement control order (MCO) set by the Malaysian government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following several issues, Ahmad Janius Abdullah, the Vice President of the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation, decided to invite Hidilyn – of whom he had known since 2011 – to travel to his mother’s hometown in Jasin where she then continued training in his makeshift gym.
(Photo Source: Hidilyn Diaz Instagram)