Long before Albert Ian Delos Santos emerged as a world junior champion, Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo already believed he could become one of the faces of Philippine weightlifting’s future.
Now, after the 19-year-old delivered a gold medal and another world junior record at the IWF Junior World Championships, Diaz-Naranjo’s belief appears to be turning into reality.
The young Filipino lifter stunned the international field after clearing 187kg in the clean and jerk event, breaking his own junior world record and securing the gold medal in a breakthrough moment for Philippine weightlifting.
For Diaz-Naranjo, the victory represented more than another medal for the country. It was a glimpse of what could be the next era of Filipino excellence in the sport she once carried to historic heights at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The Olympic champion has closely followed Delos Santos’ rise over the past few years. During the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, where the Zamboanga City native won silver in the men’s 71kg division and established a junior world record of 186kg, Diaz-Naranjo was already among those proudly supporting him from the sidelines.
At that same tournament, she openly described Delos Santos as the future of Philippine weightlifting.
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RECORD. RESET. REPEAT.
19-year-old weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos resets his own junior world record to 187kg in clean and jerk en route to a 326kg total and gold medal finish in the men’s 71kg division of the IWF World Junior Championships in Egypt.#IWF pic.twitter.com/Vv25HjAQhS
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 5, 2026
Earlier this month, Diaz-Naranjo traveled to Egypt as part of the IWF Athlete Commission, but even while carrying official duties, she made time to personally support the young Filipino standout during the competition.
It became an emotional experience for the 35-year-old Olympian, especially since her husband and longtime coach, Julius Naranjo, also serves as one of Delos Santos’ mentors alongside his mother, Diwa.
“I was there and siyempre sobrang saya ako as a gold medalist. Tapos makita ko na, wow, in person na nakita ko na si Ian nag-break ng record ng world junior,” Diaz-Naranjo said.
Diaz-Naranjo expressed pride in the achievement, noting that winning medals at the youth and junior levels was tough during their time, making it even more meaningful that Delos Santos has now established a record of his own.
“Kasi kahit natapos na, matatapos this year ang pagiging junior niya, pero iniwan niya yung record ng Pilipinas doon. Pangalan niya at sa kasama din ng picture ng tatay niya, nakakaiyak at nakakaproud siya,” Diaz-Naranjo added.
For Delos Santos, the support from the Naranjo couple remains surreal. Like many young Filipino athletes, he grew up inspired by Diaz-Naranjo’s historic Olympic triumph, which forever changed the landscape of Philippine sports.
But while Delos Santos has already conquered the junior stage, Diaz-Naranjo believes the bigger challenge is only beginning.
The Olympic gold medalist said she hopes to eventually see the rising star compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, though she stressed that consistent support will be crucial in helping him qualify.
With records already falling at just 19 years old, Delos Santos is beginning to carry not only medals for the Philippines, but also the expectations of a new Olympic generation.
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