Hidilyn Diaz graduates from college

Hidilyn Diaz, the lone Filipino Olympic gold medalist, has graduated from college with a degree in Business Administration major in Management at the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde.

Diaz announced her graduation over her social media pages on Saturday, July 22, posting pictures of her during the graduation ceremony.

“I never thought that this would be a tear-jerker. Not an ordinary day,” wrote Diaz in Filipino.

Hidilyn Diaz PHOTO FROM DIAZ’S INSTAGRAM

“It took 16 years, I’ve shifted courses, made school transfers, filed LOA (leave of absence) because it’s hard to juggle my weightlifting duties and studies.”

Diaz, 32, said she didn’t know she could pull this off considering how busy she had been preparing for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Now that she’s able to prove that it’s possible, Diaz, the only Filipino athlete with a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, Olympics, and World Championships, said that fellow student-athletes and even those who stopped schooling can finish their education as well.

“Dreaming of graduating from college and earning a degree while preparing for the Olympics. I never thought that I could do this after sleepless nights and tiring days from training while attending school at De La Salle – College of St. Benilde,” said Diaz.

“It’s possible. If I was able to do it, the student-athletes, the kids, and those who want to finish school, they can do it too. Age doesn’t matter. It’s difficult but it’s worth it. I never imagined reaching this point. But here I stand.”