ASIAN Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal is ready for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
To prepare for her upcoming competitions, Didal underwent months of therapy at Cardia Olympia coupled with an intense assessment last July, at the Red Bull High Performance Training Center in Santa Monica, California, to address a lingering injuries.
“Last December 2014, I had a very severe ankle sprain that didn’t seem to get better,” Didal said. “Until recently, it affected my skating because I kept thinking it might happen again.”
The 20-year-old’s assessment included a series of exercises that improved her flexibility and core reflexes, allowing her to build up confidence.
In addition, Didal worked on fine-tuning her trick executions.
“The best part about them [Red Bull] is when they would torture me during rehab,” Didal joked. “But really, they have the best team, therapist and equipment. They helped so much—especially with my ankle concerns and other key areas. Now we’re focusing on a lot of ways to improve my skills.”
Didal’s effective rehab program helped her to a fifth-place finish at the recent Street League Skateboarding (SLS) World Tour in Los Angeles, California, establishing her as the highest-ranked Filipino skater in the world today. With a top-10 finish at the SLS World Tour, Didal has her sights set on a podium finish in the SEA Games in order to secure her place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“I’m always prepared and ready to compete, no matter where it is. That’s why I recently spent time in Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles to get the best place training possible. I’ve also got some new tricks prepared but will stick to the game plan,” she said.
With a series of accomplishments, Didal has established herself as one of the top skaters in the world today. And as such, she has become an influential figure among aspiring athletes in the Philippines.
“I’m honored to be an inspiration to the next generation of skaters,” Didal said. “In the future, I am keen on doing more projects like clinics to share with them what I’ve learned.”