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Patrick Blennerhassett

Nicolas Atkin

Follow our live coverage of day three of the Tokyo Olympics here
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has given the Philippines its first Olympic gold medal, ending a near 100-year wait.
The 30-year-old won silver at the 2016 Rio Games in the 53kg category, but went one better in the 55kg category at Tokyo 2020 on Monday, setting an Olympic record and tying the world record to boot.

On her fourth Games appearance, Diaz lifted 97kg in the snatch and 127kg in the clean and jerk for a combined weight of 224kg, smashing her personal best to see off China’s Liao Qiuyun (223kg) – who now must share her title as world record holder.
Zulfiya Chinshanlo from Kazakhstan took bronze with 213kg.
Pacquiao ‘so proud’ of Diaz for winning Philippines’ first Olympic gold
Diaz was overcome with emotion when her victory was confirmed, and there were more tears of joy when the Philippines national anthem was played during the medal ceremony – and when the country’s flag was raised highest of all for the first time.

 
“It’s unbelievable, it’s a dream, come true,” Diaz told AFP. “I want to say to the young generation in the Philippines, ‘You can have this dream of gold too’. This is how I started and finally I was able to do it.”
“I’m looking forward to going back home to the Philippines to be with my family because I really miss them,” she added. “I’m looking forward now to enjoy my life after so many sacrifices.”
Diaz had spent the last 18 months training for the Games in Malaysia because of Covid-19 restrictions in the Philippines. At one point, she even took to Instagram to beg for sponsorship and financial support, so she could continue to chase her gold medal medal dream in what was likely to be her last Olympics.

“Postponing the Olympics for another one year is hard for us mentally, physically, because we sacrifice a lot,” Diaz told AFP last year. “We sacrifice our life with the family, our time with our family, we decided to focus only on the sport.
“As an Olympic athlete, we still continue even though it‘s hard because we know this pandemic will not be permanent. It’s temporary and the Olympics will push through. For me, I’m on track mentally and physically for Tokyo 2020.”
The Philippines had previously won 10 Olympic medals – three silver, and seven bronze – and Diaz was in tears when her victory was confirmed.

Since joining the Olympic Games in 1924, the Philippines had never won gold until Diaz, whose silver in Rio de Janeiro was the country’s first medal in 20 years. Diaz also won gold at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Diaz is just the second athlete from the Philippines to win multiple Olympics. Swimmer Teofilo Yldefonzo, won bronze in the men’s 200-metre breaststroke in the 1928 and 1932 Games.


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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo 2020: Hidilyn Diaz is Philippines’ first Olympic gold medallist after 55kg weightlifting triumph

Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz reacts while competing in the women’s 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum. Photo: AFP

Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz (C) reacts after placing first in the women's 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

Gold medallist Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz stand on the podium for the victory ceremony of the women's 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

epa09367724 Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines reacts in the Women's 55kg Snatch during the Weightlifting events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan, 26 July 2021. EPA-EFE/JEON HEON-KYUN

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Gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz, of the Philippines, celebrates her Tokyo 2020 Olympics triumph. Photo: Reuters

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China’s Zhu Ting (left) spikes during the women's volleyball preliminary round match between China and the United States at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: Xinhua

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Momiji Nishiya of Japan reacts during the women’s street skateboarding event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Photo: Reuters

Momiji Nishiya of Japan competes in the women's street skateboarding finals at the Tokyo Olympics on July 26, 2021, at Ariake Urban Sports Park. The 13-year-old won the gold medal. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Thirteen-year-old Japanese skateboarder Momiji Nishiya celebrates after winning the women's street gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on July 26, 2021, at Ariake Urban Sports Park. (Kyodo)(TOPPAGE) ==Kyodo

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Skateboarding - Women's Street - Final - Ariake Urban Sports Park - Tokyo, Japan - July 26, 2021. Momiji Nishiya of Japan in action. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

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Sport


The 30-year-old in tears after ending her country’s near 100-year wait for Games gold by smashing personal best and setting Olympic record
China’s Liao Qiuyun takes silver and Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo bronze



Hidilyn Diaz in tears after ending her country’s near 100-year wait for Games gold as she smashes personal best and sets Olympic record in women’s 55kg weightlifting event.


Lunar: Newsletter

Tokyo 2020: Hidilyn Diaz is Philippines’ first Olympic gold medallist after 55kg weightlifting triumph

The 30-year-old in tears after ending her country’s near 100-year wait for Games gold by smashing personal best and setting Olympic record China’s Liao Qiuyun takes silver and Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo bronze

The 30-year-old in tears after ending her country’s near 100-year wait for Games gold by smashing personal best and setting Olympic record

China’s Liao Qiuyun takes silver and Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo bronze