Weightlifting Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz has achieved another milestone by completing a short culinary course. 

On her Instagram page, the athlete shared that she recently graduated from Fundamentals in Culinary Arts Course at the Center for Culinary Arts Manila.

Hidilyn expressed her gratitude on social media, thanking her husband, Julius Naranjo, for his support in this new venture.

"Thank you sa support [Julius]. I will cook good food for you. Ayee," she posted.

She also acknowledged her culinary mentor for guiding her through the program.

"Salamat po chef @jayreciocooks sa pag-guide sa cooking journey naming mga CCAMANILA FCAC Batch 53," she said.

Hidilyn also expressed her joy in meeting her batchmates. "Masaya ako na nakilala ko kayo batchmate," Hidilyn said.

According to CCA Manila's website, the Fundamentals in Culinary Arts Course is a "compressed 80-hour comprehensive training program. Each class was designed to teach specific skills, which gradually become more complex as the program progresses."

The course is an ideal starting point for culinary professionals, covering foundational cooking skills, palate training, teamwork, and international cuisines.

Back in April 2024, Hidilyn shared her desire to take culinary courses as she embarked on a new chapter following the conclusion of her Paris 2024 journey, where she fell short of qualifying for the Summer Olympics. 

"This moment is for me to learn new skills - join classes and workshops to learn to cook and bake. I have long wanted to take culinary courses since I was 22 years old, and now, I will not just imagine doing pasta, pizza, and kare-kare, I will bake and cook some for my friends and family," she said.

The athlete went on: "I will also learn to do business and invest myself in education to be a better sports leader. I have a lot of things to learn in life."

On July 26, 2024, Hidilyn opened the HD Weightlifting Academy in Rizal, marking another significant milestone in her life.

"On July 26th 2021, @hidilyndiaz and I celebrate a historical feat for the Philippines. One year later, we tie the knot and get married. And another year later, we open the @hdweightliftingacademy and commemorate our love for the sport and give back to grassroots," Julius posted on social media.