In her new role, Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo (center photo) will take a broader view of her sport — and the issues it faces. (File photo from Agence France-Presse)
Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo reached another milestone in her illustrious career as a weightlifting world champion and Olympic gold medalist.
The country’s first golden performer at the Olympics gained more influence at the pinnacle of her sport on the world stage when Diaz-Naranjo joined the powerful International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive Board (EB).
The four-time Olympian, who is bidding for gold in the women’s 55kg at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games, sat on the 10-member IWF EB for the first time during a recent online meeting.
“I just watched and listened to our conversation at the IWF EB. We met recently and I will try to see how I can help,” Diaz-Naranjo told the Inquirer.
Diaz Naranjo, who also won a silver medal during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, will work with fellow Ghanaian athletes Forrester Osi and retired lifter Louisa Peters from Cook to represent weightlifters around the world in her new role. will do The islands
Osei retained the leadership of the IWF Athletes Commission during its election last month, while Diaz-Naranjo is the vice-chairman of the 10-member commission.
“I can see that the EB officials really have a heart for weightlifting. We will try to work on the issues to develop our sport,” said Diaz Naranjo, who has 270,000 followers on social media. Can help convey the message of the Weightlifting Federation.
Historic moment
IWF President Mohammad Jaloud hailed the move to install three representatives of the Athletes’ Commission at the EB as a historic moment for sport, noting that the IWF was the first international federation to achieve this level of athlete representation. has become
It was a step in the right direction as weightlifting entered an important phase in its history when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) initially excluded it from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics program due to ongoing doping concerns among some IWF athletes. Finished the game.
Sadly, the proposed demise of weightlifting in Los Angeles comes at a time when Philippine weightlifting is making strides on the international front.
Asian champion Vanessa Sarno, Tokyo Olympian Elrin Endo, Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Crystal McHugh and world junior gold performer Rosie Ramos, among others, are expected to follow Hedlin’s footsteps to greatness.
corruption
The IOC, which organizes the quadrennial Olympics, decided to temporarily suspend weightlifting from the LA program along with boxing and modern pentathlon.
International weightlifting officials were accused of corruption in an investigative report in June 2021, accusing them of covering up doping cases involving Olympic and world championship medal-winning lifters.
Former IWF officials were charged with complicity and tampering under the World Anti-Doping Code.
The IOC will reassess its position on weightlifting this year as the IWF moves to appeal its involvement in LA, scrapping the gloomy outlook that Paris 2024 could be its last Olympics. can
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