History Made: Filipino’s First Olympic Gold Won by Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz
Hidilyn Diaz bursts into tears after winning the first-ever Olympic gold medal of the Philippines in the women’s 55-kg weightlifting event.
YOU MAKE US PROUD, HIDILYN! 🇵🇭
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) July 26, 2021
Hidilyn Diaz bursts into tears after winning the first-ever Olympic gold medal of the Philippines in the women’s 55-kg weightlifting event. #Tokyo2020 (AFP photos) pic.twitter.com/d0eQIVtw8Z
Setting record performance on a weightlifting event
It was a full record-setting performance. Hidilyn Diaz wound up with two records and the gold medal in women’s 55kg weightlifting, clinching both on her last lift.
As tears welled in her eyes, even without words, she did everything for the Filipino people. Hidilyn did not just make history for the Philippines but lifted our destitute spirit.
Next to Diaz was Muattar Nabieva of Uzbekistan, Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan, and China’s Liao Quiyun, tied with Diaz at 97 snatches, set an Olympic record with 123kg in the clean and jerk, giving her an Olympic record total of 220kg. [Tokyo Olympics]
However, Diaz did one better, lifting 124kg for a total of 221kg.
It’s Hidilyn Diaz’s fourth Olympics. She won silver in 2016 and was the Philippines’ flagbearer in 2012. She has also become a voice for publicly supporting the ‘#OustD30 campaign.’