'There is purpose': In her lows as an athlete, Hildilyn Diaz found GodMANILA, Philippines — The year was 2014, and Hildilyn Diaz, dealing with a knee injury and the loss of a coach, was in what she described as her downtime as an athlete. Before a Catholic Church-led conference some few years back, she spoke of a spiritual hunger and emptiness that eventually spiraled to depression. Philippine bishops joined the nation in congratulating Diaz and hailed her devotion to Mary as "she carried in her victory her great faith to God." Fast forward to 2021 in Tokyo, Diaz said she did not expect she could lift the 55 kg. Diaz returns to the Philippines on Wednesday, a country dealing with hardships from the pandemic but whose people found emotional relief from her Olympic win.

Source: Philippine Star July 27, 2021 09:45 UTC