SPORTS NEWS
Tokyo 2020: Hidilyn Diaz delivers PH’s first Olympic gold
Photo credit: PureWow / Rappler
Published on:
Jul 26, 2021
Jasper M. Lacar
Jasper M. Lacar is a current 3rd year BS Medical Laboratory Science Student of Cagayan State University - College of Allied Health Sciences. He is also the Sports Editor of the Likha Pahinarya.
THE dry spell for the Philippines finally ended this Monday night.
Hidilyn Diaz bagged Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold after ruling in the Tokyo 2020 women's 55kg weightlifting competition held at the Tokyo International Forum, July 26.
The 30-year-old Filipina registered a 97kg and an Olympic record 127kg in the snatch and in the clean and jerk, respectively, for a sum of 224kg.
Starting out strong, Diaz, a pride of Zamboanga, cleared 94kg in her first snatch, followed by her second attempt to tie the previous Olympic record of 97kg.
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However, Uzbekistan’s Muattar Nabieva reset the Olympic record as she cleared 98kg in the snatch; Diaz attempted to advance a lead with 99kg but failed to register a lift.
Meanwhile, world record holder Liao Qiuyun of China recorded 126kg in her third attempt in the clean and jerk, besting Diaz’s second attempt of 124kg. But determined Diaz, carrying her country longing for Olympic gold, closed out the event with a lift of 127kg.
Liao settled for silver at 223kg (97kg snatch, 126kg clean and jerk) while Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan won the bronze medal with 213kg (90kg snatch, 123kg clean and jerk).
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It was also Diaz who ended the 20-year medal drought of the Philippines in the Rio Olympics after finishing with a silver medal in 2016.
In her four straight Olympics, Diaz is now one of the multi-medaled Filipino Olympian from her country, together with Teofilo Yldefonzo who captured bronze in the men’s 200m breaststroke swimming in 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles.