FILIPINA SEALS SILVER IN RIO
FILIPINA STRENGTH. Diaz lifted a total weight of 200 kilograms securing the second place in the 53kg women’s weightlifting division in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
Hidilyn Diaz won silver medal in the wome’s weightlifting division during the 2016 Rio Olympics held in Brazil last August 8, 2016 which ended the country’s 20-year Olympic medal drought.
The Air Force Special Service Group airwoman lifted 200 kilograms against Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching and South Korea’s Yoon Jin Hee who lifted a weight of 212 kilograms and 199 kilograms respectively.
Diaz was the country’s flag bearer in the 2012 London Games yet she started her journey to Rio in 2014 while she attended a 58-day training camp in China which capped off her preparations for the game.
At the time, when asked what she would do should she reach the medal round, Diaz said, “Maybe if I am in that moment, I will pray and will talk to myself that I need to trust myself because I’m already here.”
Malacaňang congratulated the female weightlifter on her triumph and was entitled to a P5 million reward as well as cash incentives and retirement benefits that is stated from RA 10699 signed by former President Aquino.
Diaz said prior to the Rio Olympics that she planned to leave the Air Romance and accept scholarship at Lindenwood University in Missouri, USA.
People’s Champ, Senator Manny Pacquiao expressed that he’s willing to give Diaz cash incentives direct from his own pocket.
