Hidilyn Diaz Wins the Philippines Its First Olympic Gold Medal In 100 Years

Observing some of the world’s biggest athletes complete superhuman feats is a beloved pastime and there is certainly no greater way to do just that than by tuning into the Olympic Games. Past a global sports activities function, the Summer months Olympics is also a primary possibility to witness background in the making—and the situations of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are no exception. On July 26, female weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz designed background for the Philippines, profitable the country its to start with Olympic gold medal in the virtually 100 several years that the country has been participating in the Games.

The level of competition between Diaz and China’s Liao Qiuyun was fairly close—with both women lifting 97 kg (about 214 lbs.) in the 1st-round snatch carry and Diaz lifting 127 kg (almost 280 lbs.) to Liao’s 126 kg (just about 278 lbs.) in the clear and jerk. But Diaz finally clinched the gain with her very last lift, beating Liao by just one particular kilo and using the gold in the women’s 55-kg weightlifting category. In the process, she also managed to set an Olympic record with a merged total bodyweight of 224 kg (about 494 lbs.) lifted in between two productive makes an attempt.

This isn’t Diaz’s 1st time making historical past either, as she became the Philippines’ initial-ever female Olympic medalist when she gained silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics. And her path to the gold has been a single paved with devotion and sacrifice. Released to weightlifting as a young lady, she properly trained with do-it-yourself weights designed from plastic pipes and concrete right until a number of organizations recognized her enthusiasm and donated barbells for her to apply with. Because of to her expertise and zeal, she was picked out to characterize the Philippines for the first time at the Beijing 2008 Olympics when she was just 17 decades old.

Now, the 2020 Online games have introduced the Olympian’s journey entire circle, satisfying her tricky perform with the cherished fruits of her labors. “I sacrificed a whole lot,” Diaz recalled immediately after her groundbreaking gain. “I was not capable to be with my mother and father for how lots of months and yrs and then, of system, teaching was excruciating. But God experienced a strategy.”

Scroll down to view a recap of Hidilyn Diaz’s gold-successful lifts, and comply with the gifted athlete on Instagram to retain up with her journey.

Feminine weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz just won the Philippines its very first-ever Olympic gold medal!

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Observe her gold-profitable lifts in the women’s 55-kilograms weightlifting class.

https://www.youtube.com/check out?v=wDAFZFL1fGg

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h/t: [NPR]

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