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Hidilyn Diaz, Weightlifting Queen Wins Philippines’ First Olympic Gold Medal

Vberni Regalado
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Philippines’ weightlifting queen Hidilyn Diaz just made a record that makes her country celebrate!

Reuters / Chris Graythen

Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz emerged triumphant in the women’s 55kg division at the Tokyo Olympics. This is the first gold medal the Philippines has won since the country joined in 1924.

The 30-year-old lifted 97kg in the snatch and 127kg in the clean and jerk, placing her ahead of silver medalist Liao Qiuyun of China (221kg) and bronze medalist Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan with a combined total of 224kg (213kg).

Her record of 127kg in the clean and jerk also sets a new Olympic record for weightlifting.

Diaz is just the second Filipino athlete to win multiple medals at the Games. She followed Teofilo Yldefonso’s two bronze medals in swimming in 1928 and 1932. The Zamboanga native had previously earned a silver medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Hidilyn Diaz pleads for support

In 2019, Hidilyn Diaz sought for support from the private sector, as the Philippine Sports Commission allegedly did not give enough for her training and cost of living.

“I’m having a hard time already, I need financial support. Do you think it’s okay, I’m embarrassed to ask but I will try to work up the nerve for my goal to bring home a gold medal in the Olympics for our country,” she wrote.

The Philippine Sports Commission responded to her plea, saying that they have been supportive of her.

“The government has been very supportive,” declared PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez in 2019.

Private organizations, such as the MVP Sports Foundation, supported her in her Olympic gold bid.

“I am so thankful to the private sectors who helped me like last year, we first thought we would not survive our stay in,” Diaz said in an earlier interview.

Hirap na hirap na ako': Hidilyn Diaz asks for financial help for Olympic  bid | ABS-CBN News

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