TOKYO—Hidilyn Diaz will be flying home on Wednesday with that precious gold medal hanging from her neck.
Diaz, who won the women’s -55 kgs gold medal of weightlifting in Olympic record fashion at the Tokyo International Forum on Monday night, and her team returns home on board a Philippine Airlines flight.
“It’s mandatory,” Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, referring to protocols set by the Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee. “But more important is that Hidilyn wants to be with her family who she haven’t seen for more than one and a half years now.”
Athletes, coaches, officials and even media are required to leave Japan within 48 hours after the completion of their events or tasks as prescribed by the Tokyo Olympics Playbook.
In Diaz’s case, she has only until Wednesday to return home.
Too bad, Diaz could only be feted with the warmest of all reception accorded sporting heroes at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Diaz and her team—Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen and strength and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo—will have to be hotel quarantined for seven days as set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
