Summit Philippines backs athletes in their #ThirstForGold

In support of the Philippines’ quest for gold and glory in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Summit Natural Drinking Water is enjoining all Filipinos to rally behind four-time Olympic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and world-rated pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena a few days before they plunge into the biggest fights of their sporting lives.

As the official hydration partner of Team Philippines to the Tokyo Olympics, Summit Natural Drinking Water has been a constant advocate of the Filipinos’ indomitable spirit in the international sporting arena as it contributes to the training and hydration of the athletes in their #ThirstForGold.

Summit Natural Drinking Water, in partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee, celebrates its decade-long commitment to supporting Philippine athletes as they move forward and pursue even greater heights in the Olympics.

Lift of faith

Even before the coming Tokyo games, Diaz is already the most decorated Olympian ever, having participated in three Olympiads already, with a fourth one in Tokyo coming.

At age 17, Diaz made her first Olympic venture in 2008 in Beijing as a wildcard entry. She again made it to the London games four years later, and even though she came out empty handed in those two tries, she was making progress physically and mentally.

Finally when no one was looking in the 2016 Rio Olympics, she surprised everyone with a silver finish in the women’s 53-kg, becoming the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal.

If she wins the gold Tokyo, she will be the Philippines’ greatest athlete of all time.

Obiena among the big guns

Athletics’ pride in Obiena moved to sixth place in the pole vault rankings of the World Athletics just a few weeks before the start of games, leaping from 10th following a string of successful campaigns in international competitions, where he set the Philippine record twice.

He struck gold when he cleared 5.70 meters in the Gothenburg Athletics Grand Prix in Germany on June 2, before breaking the Philippine record, which he also owns, on June 11 when he cleared 5.85 meters for the gold medal in the Jump and Fly Meet in Mossingen, Germany.

Obiena then erased the mark for the second time when he registered 5.87 meters to claim the silver medal in the Irena Szewinska Memorial-Bydgoszcz in Poland at the end of June, behind behind American pole vaulter Chris Nilson, who made it in 5.92 meters.

“The Olympics is very near and no one can predict the results, but rest assured that the fighting spirit is very much alive. We will proudly, not just represent the Philippines, but fight for its glory,” wrote Obiena. “I rest it all to You.”

A Continuous Commitment

As a show of support to Diaz and Obiena in particular and Team Philippines as a whole, Summit Natural Drinking Water gives back to the Filipino athletes by releasing commemorative Summit Sports Label Bottles, wherein every Summit Natural Drinking Water bottle purchased contributes to the training and hydration of our Nation’s athletes.

“We take pride in knowing that despite the obvious challenges and hardships today, the sheer Filipino spirit is proven to be more than capable of breaking through these barriers and emerging from them stronger than they were before. Hidilyn Diaz and EJ Obiena is a testament to this, and it is with this sentiment that we take great honor in being a part of our athletes’ pursuit to greatness,” says Asia Brewery Inc. Marketing Manager Jill Villanueva.

Villanueva also looks forward and expresses that Summit Natural Drinking Water has a lot of exciting plans in store for the rest of the year.