Didal reiterates need for more skateparks in PH

After an “epic” Olympic stint in Tokyo, Japan, Filipina skateboarding sensation Margielyn Didal once again wished for the creation of more skateparks in the Philippines.

Taking it to Instagram, her first post since settling for seventh place in the final of the women's street skateboarding in the 2020 Tokyo Games, Didal said, "wish we can have good skatepark/s in Philippines too so that I can share how fun skateboarding is.”

This has been her request from the beginning especially after reigning supreme in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held here in the Philippines, where she bagged two gold medals.

Didal echoed the same sentiments she had two years ago, saying that the gold medal hauls by the national team served as a wake up call for the construction of skateparks in the country.

In the 2019 SEA Games alone, Team PH took 11 medals — six golds, four silvers, and a bronze — courtesy of Didal, Mak Feliciano, Kiko Francisco, Daniel Ledermann, Christiana Nicole Means, Jaime de Lange, Duke Pandeagua, and Rydelle Abarico.

Prior to that, the 22-year-old Cebuana pride also ruled the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

Thanks to one of her sponsors Red Bull, Didal managed to maximize her time in Cebu before flying to the United States for more extensive training in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Asia Skateboarder of the Year spent most of her time training at her custom-built training facility in Soul Sierra, Cebu, specifically designed by Boots Brandon based on Didal's preferences.

Aside from Didal, the facility was also used by fellow national team members as seen on Skate Pilipinas' Instagram page.