Diaz hands Philippines Rio-Olympics silver medal

By Kreshia Bundal

Hidilyn Diaz, a Filipino weightlifter and airwoman, has sprung major surprise in the Philippines by
winning a weightlifting Silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She won the silver medal in Women’s
53-kilogram in the weight division ending Philippines’ 20-year Olympic medal drought. Sports analyst in
the Philippines had not expected the 1.54 m (5 ft. ½ in) tall Diaz to bag a Silver medal at the 2016 games
after coming down empty in 2008 and 2012 games.
Diaz was a full-fledged Filipino born on February 20, 1991 at Zamboanga City, Philippines. She
also had a military career where she was a part of the Allegiance Philippines serving Philippine Air Force.
She ranked first class in her service as an airwoman. Diaz’ coaches were Antonio Agustin Jr., Alfonsito
Aldanete, and Allen Jayfros Diaz.
Her Medal record Representing the Philippines were as follows: Olympic Games- 2016 Rio
Janeiro 53 kg, in the Asian Championships- 2016 Tashkent 53 kg, Phuket- 53 kg, in the world
championships-2015, Houston- 53 kg, in the Southeast Asian Games 2013, Naypidaw-58 kg, 2011
Jakarta- 58 kg, and 2007 Nakhon Rath chasima with 58 kg.
Before this marvel, she was a student of the Universidad de Zamboanga where she won two gold
and one silver medal in the Asian Youth/Junior weightlifting championship in Jeonju, South Korea. She
also competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Women’s 58-kilogram category where she was the
youngest competitor. She was also a bronze medallist in the 2007. Sea Games in Thailand and a 10 th
placer in the Asia Games.
Diaz is a model to all Filipinos especially the women, as she showed such impressive and
excellent strength against the best weightlifters in the world. Truly, she is a Filipino pride.