CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Inside a modest home gym in Quezon City, the sharp sound of iron plates clinking is followed by something far less conventional in a weightlifting club: the gentle, reassuring applause of a grandfather.

To most seven-year-olds, heavy barbells are intimidating blocks of metal. But to Euhanne Queencess Masangkay, they are simply a part of growing up.

Long before she ever stepped onto a competitive platform, strength was her everyday environment. She spent her early years watching her grandfather, Cirilo Dayao, and her uncle Jose push their physical limits in the family gym. On television, she cheered as her mother shattered world records in powerlifting and watched Olympic hero Hidilyn Diaz lift the pride of an entire country.

"I grew up constantly seeing my grandfather and uncle training," Euhanne recalls. "I saw how easily they could lift heavy barbells."

To the little girl watching from the sidelines, bending iron looked as natural as learning to walk.


"When I step up to the bar, I feel like Supergirl."
— Euhanne Queencess Masangkay, 7

Patience Before Iron

Recognizing her innate curiosity, Dayao didn't start his three-year-old granddaughter with heavy weights. Instead, her training began with simple lightweight PVC pipes to master proper form and technique, slowly moving to light bars as her body grew.

For Dayao, who acts as both head coach at Cyber Muscle Gym Weightlifting Club and devoted grandfather, guiding a young child through a heavy sport requires the patience of a father rather than the sternness of a drill sergeant.

"Kailangan lang talaga ang haba ng pasensya," Dayao emphasizes. "Kailangan sa isang coach ay tatay din ang turing sa mga batang atleta... If they fail to lift the barbell, do not scold them. Tell them they will be able to lift it next time."

Whenever Euhanne lifts, her grandfather’s hands hover just inches away. Every personal record is celebrated with applause; every missed lift is met with patience.

Proving Her Strength

That nurturing environment has fueled remarkable success. Competing across both weightlifting (snatch, clean & jerk) and powerlifting (squat, bench press, deadlift), Euhanne has already amassed nine gold medals and nine "Best Lifter" awards.

Her biggest test came on August 15, 2026, at the Hidilyn Diaz LIFTOFF Weightlifting Championships in Glorietta, Makati City. Stepping onto the platform in the under-12 category, the seven-year-old faced pre-teens nearly twice her age.

"Karamihan po ng kalaban nya dyan is ages 9, 10, 11, 12 years old," Dayao shares proudly.

Despite the age gap, Euhanne held her own, walking away with a bronze medal alongside event winner Samantha Diaz, the niece of Olympic icon Hidilyn Diaz.

The Heart Behind the Barbell

While the medals continue to stack up, what keeps the young prodigy step-stepping up to the loaded bar isn't the pressure of winning—it is the joy of family and community.

"What I love most about joining competitions is the happiness I feel knowing that the entire Cyber Muscle Gym team and my family are supporting me," Euhanne says.

With her bronze medal secured, Euhanne is now preparing for her next major milestone at the upcoming Batang Pinoy National Championships in Bacolod City, where she will compete in the 8-year-old division.

Her long-term dream, however, stretches far beyond regional meets: she wants to become an Olympic Champion. And with the strength of her mother’s legacy and her grandfather holding her up, Quezon City's "Supergirl" is well on her way.