All eyes have been on on Hidilyn Diaz since she took home the gold last Monday, June 26, but our other female Olympian, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, has been busy winning hearts the world over.
Didal, who finished 7th in the women’s street skateboarding event also on Monday, has always been all about doing what she loves. “Do what you love” even made it to the title of the first episode of the Olympics Originals series By Her Rules about Margielyn, which you should definitely, 120%, put-down-whatever-you’re-doing watch right now.
She’s been a scene-stealer all throughout the Games, famously photobombing fellow Olympians and hamming it up for the cameras in the background. For spectators used to athletes only showing their serious game faces, Margielyn is a breath of seriously fresh air.
That attitude has won her fans abroad, notably in Japan and in Brazil. If playing Hidilyn-and-seek became the national Twitter pastime in the Philippines following Diaz’s win, Brazilians were playing Spot the Margielyn on social media.
— Lívia Maiolino (@liviamaiolino) July 27, 2021
Ela ganhou meu coração kkkkk pic.twitter.com/mc3IvrVtP5
— 제시카 🧈🌙💙 (@jessicaprudenc6) July 26, 2021
— Twitheart 🇦🇺🇵🇭 (@twitheart) July 27, 2021
🙌🥰🥰 pic.twitter.com/ZZZ1616VLb
— .BAE (@baechnngg) July 28, 2021
Brazilians celebrated “the Filipina”‘s gregariousness, with comments like “Aaaahh, what a dear, supportive opponent. That’s very rare,” and “This Filipina must have Brazilian DNA!”
Even the official Olympics (@olympics) account took note of Margie’s sportsmanship, even after she injured herself during competition.
Read: Margielyn Didal pretending not to recognize Tony Hawk is a whole meme
View this post on Instagram
This will be known as the “Margielyn Didal seal approval” 🇵🇭🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/tWolMAQykq
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 26, 2021
Thank you for bringing us joy, Margie. See you at the next competition!
@margiedidalgonna do live tomorrow of tomorrow thats tomorrow is the tomorrow and I thank you
