Could Hidilyn lose Chinese coach to richer countries after Tokyo success?

Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines’ first-ever gold medalist in the Olympics, could soon become a victim of her own success.

After securing a gold in weightlifting in the 2020 Tokyo Games, she now runs the risk of being outbid for the services of her own coach, China’s Gao Kaiwen.

“The weightlifting world is now looking at Coach Gao,” Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez told reporters on Friday. “Mind you, his credentials now look brighter with Hidilyn’s success here.”

There is now an expectation that wealthier countries could come and offer much higher amounts that would be difficult to match.

PSC chief of staff Marc Velasco revealed that Gao currently receives a monthly salary of $2,500 here. But Ramirez said other countries could offer as much as $10,000 a month for their foreign coaches.

With Gao’s contract set to expire on December 31 of this year, Ramirez warned that there are no guarantees Coach Gao will be part of Team HD if she returns to train for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Gao is one of several foreign coaches who helped train the Filipino Olympians for the Tokyo Games. Athletes for boxing, rowing and pole vault all employ foreign coaches as well.

—JMB, GMA News