SOME people want to politicize the Hidilyn Diaz Olympic gold victory and make it into an anti-Duterte and anti-China issue. They include Inquirer columnist Richard Heydarian, Sen. Ralph Recto and Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) top honcho, Monico Puentebella. who tried to conflate it with the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue but which failed miserably when the nation learned that Hidilyn’s main coach was famous Chinese Bayi (name of team) weightlifting trainer Gao Kaiwen.
Gao Kaiwen not only trained and imparted discipline to the point of what Hidilyn describes as painful; he also cooked the food of Hidilyn in the four years that he trained her to correct her previous diet that was heavy on carbohydrates (like many Filipinos addicted to rice, which is not good for building muscle and strength). Gao also build the training facility in Malaysia where they were “exiled” during training partly because of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
It is reported that Hidilyn herself chose Gao who has trained many gold medalist Chinese weightlifters, because she had observed Gao in previous events she joined.
Others say it may be the Chinese-Filipino supporters of Hidilyn wo recommended Gao. One major supporter had been Sen. Bong Go who got a P2-Million sponsorship for Hidilyn even before her gold success (those Johnny-come-latelies who now donated tens of millions each don’t really count).
There is no question that Gao’s training was a key element to Hidilyn’s final triumph even over her traditional rival who had made the 55kg. women’s weightlifting class record of 128kg ‘Clean and Jerk’ lift before.
Gao also kept secret the strength that he had helped Hidilyn gain while training under him hence the main rival and four years younger Lian Qiuyun under-lifted her last not expecting Hidilyn to try and succeed in the 127kg. That’s Gao’s professionalism.
No one in the world will fail to notice the success of the Chinese team in many of the Olympics field and many international athletes are also getting Chinese trainers. This is because Chinese athletics possess theories and practices that are different and in many ways more effective than Western athletics.
I picked up something from a paper: “Analysis of Differences between Chinese and Western Sport Philosophy” which says:
“The origins of thought of Chinese and Western sports cultures decide the differences between Chinese and Western sports. The harmony of China and competition of the West can be both embodied in sports.
“This thesis will analyze the differences between Chinese and Western sports philosophy.” Chinese traditional herbs are also used by Chinese athletic trainers and their wards which have increased the advantage of Chinese athletes.
We don’t have more details about the training and dietary prescriptions trainer Gao applied on Hidilyn’s training program which produced the triumph, what is known is Hidilyn herself has exercised as much brain as she did her brawns to succeed. Like Duterte she used the best available knowledge and capabilities she could find which she got from Gao Kaiwen and it paid off. This certainly is not about the issue of the West Philippine Sea– only the stupid would conflate the issues.
I hope more Filipinos learn from Hidilyn’s success if they have not yet learned from Duterte’s success and this is: working with China and the Chinese pays off for the Philippines and Filipinos.
The diligent character of the Chinese culture, the depth of its 5,000 years of civilizational experience and its new-found modern scientific orientation are sources of strength for us Filipinos if we absorb them and turn them into “Filipino characteristics.”
(Samahan si Ka Mentong Laurel at mga panauhin sa “Power Thinks” tuwing Miyerkules @6pm Live Global Talk News Radio (GTNR) sa Facebook at sa Talk News TV sa You Tube; at tuwing Linggo 8 to 10am sa RP1 738khz AM sa radyo.)