But I'm thankful that God used me to inspire all the young

Hidilyn Diaz, the first Olympic gold medalist of the Philippines, once declared with profound humility: “But I’m thankful that God used me to inspire all the young generation and all the Philippines people to keep fighting during this pandemic.” These words are not the boast of a victor but the prayer of a servant, who knows that her triumph was not for herself alone, but for her people, her nation, and for every weary soul who needed strength in a time of darkness. In her gratitude, Diaz reveals a truth as old as humanity: that the deeds of one can lift the spirits of many, and that the victories of the few can kindle courage in the hearts of a multitude.

The ancients revered such figures—champions who bore not only the weight of their own struggles, but also the hopes of their people. In Greece, when athletes competed at Olympia, they did not contend merely for personal glory but for the honor of their city-state, carrying with them the pride and courage of their homeland. In like manner, Diaz bore the hopes of the Philippines, a nation long yearning for its first Olympic gold, and she delivered it in the midst of the world’s greatest trial—the pandemic, when fear and despair clouded the hearts of millions.

Her words also reveal the divine element: she is thankful that God used her, as though her victory was not of her own making but of providence. This humility recalls the story of Joan of Arc, who declared that her victories were not hers but God’s, that she was but an instrument to awaken France in its darkest hour. Diaz stands in this same lineage: a chosen vessel who, through sweat and sacrifice, became a beacon of light for a people staggering beneath hardship.

The heart of her message lies in the word inspire. To inspire is to breathe life into others, to awaken in them the fire they believed extinguished. During the long nights of the pandemic, when countless families suffered loss, when work disappeared and hope seemed fragile, Diaz’s triumph was more than a medal—it was a torch held high, declaring that resilience still lived in the Filipino soul. Her weight lifted was not only iron, but despair itself, reminding the people that they too could endure, they too could rise, they too could keep fighting.

History offers us many echoes of such inspiration. When Winston Churchill addressed Britain during World War II, his words were not simply speeches, but shields that strengthened millions against terror. When Nelson Mandela walked free from prison, his very presence rekindled faith in justice for an entire generation. So too, Diaz’s victory spoke louder than her own voice—it proclaimed to the young, to the poor, to the weary, that greatness is possible even in adversity, and that one person’s triumph can become a nation’s anthem.

The lesson is clear: when we achieve, we must see beyond ourselves. Every gift, every talent, every victory is not only for personal pride but for the lifting of others. To be thankful is to acknowledge that what we accomplish is part of a greater story—that our strength may be the answer to another’s prayer, our courage the spark for another’s fight. This is the sacred responsibility of success: to be light for those still walking through darkness.

Practical counsel can be given. If you are blessed with gifts, use them not for vanity but for service. If you achieve something, speak words that uplift others, as Diaz did, and dedicate your triumphs to a cause greater than yourself. In times of hardship, remember that your endurance may give courage to another who watches silently. And above all, be thankful—for gratitude transforms personal success into communal hope, and in gratitude, we discover our true place in the tapestry of humanity.

Thus, Diaz’s words shine not only as the reflection of a champion but as the wisdom of a leader: “I’m thankful that God used me to inspire.” Let us take this teaching into our own lives, that whatever we achieve—be it small or great—we may offer it as a light for others, that together we may keep fighting, together we may keep rising, and together we may endure every darkness until the dawn breaks.