First Filipino Medalist in Rio Olympics wants to make weightlifting famous.
Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipino who bagged a silver medal in Rio Olympic Games currently going on at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, wants to make weightlifting popular in the Philippines.
In an interview, Diaz wants the Filipino youth to have interest in her sport and inspire them to reach for the Olympic medal.
When she goes home, she plans to put up a gym where the aspiring weightlifters will be trained for all international tournaments, especially the Olympics.
She will have it funded by the P5 million cash reward whe will be receiving from the Philippine government when she returns home.
On Monday, Diaz ranked second in 52 kgs weightlifting division where she garnered a total of 200 kgs weights lifted. Hsu Shu-Ching of Chinese-Taipei got the gold medal after lifting a total of 212 kgs of metal. While Yoon Jin Hee of Korea bagged the bronze medal after carrying a total of 199 kgs. The 25-year-old athlete from Zamboanga City was a bronze medalist in the 2015 World Weightlifting Championship.
This is Diaz’ third Olympic stint after lifting lots in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 Summer Games in London.
She is the first to win an Olympic medal since the 1996 Olympics when boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco got a silver medal. He competed in the men’s 48 kg. (light-flyweight) boxing category at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and took home the silver medal, the Philippines’ only medal at the Games.
In an interview, she said God and her mother are her inspiration. Diaz’ mom celebrates birthday today.
Hidilyn is one of the 13 athletes from the Philippines who joined 8 sports in the Summer Games such as golf, judo, boxing, taekwondo, table tennis, and swimming.