Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz bags first Olympic medal for the Philippines.
At last! The Philippines will not go home without any medal from Rio Olympics because weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz bags a silver medal, the first for the Philippines after 20 years.
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.
Because of the great honor that Diaz brought to the country being the first weightlifter to win in the Olympics, there is a P5 million cash reward from the government of the Philippines awaiting her return.
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte extended his greetings of congratulations to Diaz. Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the president is very proud because Philippines’ ‘medal drought’ has been ended.
“The Philippines and the President is honoured and proud of Hidilyn Diaz’s Silver Medal win at the Rio Olympics. We extend our sincerest congratulations and celebrate the end of the medal drought. Truly change has come,” said Abella.
Until now, the Philippines is not yet on the list of the nations who garnered gold medals in the Olympics since it has been member of the Olympic nations.