MANILA — Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo has confirmed her return to the Southeast Asian Games, her first appearance since 2022, and vowed to do what she always does: give her best for the Philippines.
“With me, I’ll just do my best to represent the country,” Diaz-Naranjo told the Inquirer.
Aside from aiming for another medal, she also serves as a cheerleader for her fellow Filipino athletes. “To all the athletes, I wish them luck. Remember to do your best for the country,” she added.
Diaz-Naranjo, who won back-to-back SEA Games golds in 2019 and 2022, has also been supporting other young Filipino athletes, including Karl Eldrew Yulo, at the recent 2025 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships. “I’m really supportive of the Yulo brothers… when I saw his body built now, I was amazed. He really got better,” she said.
The weightlifting star will compete in Thailand alongside fellow lifters Rosegie Ramos, Jhodie Peralta, Elreen Ando, Kristel Macrohon, and others.