'Nakakaiyak din pala': Hidilyn Diaz finishes college after 16 years

Hidilyn Diaz is now a college graduate!

The Olympic gold medalist graduated from college with a degree in Business Administration Major in Management at the De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde.

Hidilyn opened up about her recent feat in an Instagram post on Saturday, July 22. "Nakakaiyak din pala. Not an ordinary day. Inabot din ng 16 years, nagshift ng courses, nagtransfer ng school, nagLOA dahil ang hirap pagsabayin ang pagwe-weightlifting at pag-aaral," she began.

The weightlifter admitted that she thought it was impossible to earn a degree while preparing for the Olympics. "Hindi ko akalain na magagawa ko, after sleepless nights and tiring days from training while attending school at De La Salle - College of St. Benilde. Posible pala. Kung nakaya ko, kaya ng mga student-athletes, at mga bata at sa lahat na gusto makapagtapos, age doesn’t matter, mahirap pero super worth it."

"I never imagined reaching this point. But here I stand," she added.

De La Salle College of Saint Benilde previously granted her an athletic scholarship in recognition of her historic win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Filipina athlete passed her thesis defense in November 2022. She shared in an Instagram post in May this year that she completed all her requirements for graduation.

Congratulations, Hidilyn!