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Tokyo 2020-bound Margielyn Didal is brewing up a surprise for all of us.
Despite knowing how tough the competition would be in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Filipina skateboarder would rather focus on her own “bag of tricks.”
“I have my own tricks – bag of tricks – that they don’t have, so that’s why we’re training for three weeks before the Olympics,” said Didal during the virtual media roundtable with Red Bull Philippines.
The 21-year-old Cebuana, however, admitted that the top 3 skateboarding countries US, Japan, and Brazil, have an advantage as they have their own skating facilities to practice in during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Didal had to practice with makeshift obstacles in her home in Cebu for most of 2020.
“All those countries have the best skate parks, they have their own facilities everywhere in their country and hometown. They have a lot of skateparks so they can train without traveling, so that’s the biggest gap, but I think I’m positive that I can do it,” added the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist.
![[PODCAST] Targeting Tokyo: Margielyn Didal](https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2020/08/targeting-tokyo-square-margielyn.jpg?fit=449%2C449)
Didal, who fell short of a finals berth in the 2021 World Street Skateboarding Championships in Rome, Italy, also added that these top skateboarders are equipped with high-performance teams when they enter major competitions.
But she and coach Dani Bautista make the most of what they have in every competition, especially when it comes to recovery.
“Ano lang kami ni Coach – Pinoy style. Kami lang dalawa nagma-massage sa self namin or if I can’t reach my back, I’ll ask coach Dani to reach my back,” shared Didal.
(Coach and I do it Pinoy style. We do self-massages or if I can’t reach my back, I’ll ask Coach Dani to reach my back.)
Didal will only stay in Cebu for a week before ramping up her Olympic training.
The 2020 Asia Skater of the Year awardee booked a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as she ranked No. 13 in the world. – Rappler.com
To discover the stories of our Filipino Olympic hopefuls, subscribe to Rappler Sports podcast Targeting Tokyo on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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