Diaz receives P3-M Olympic cash incentive from Romero
HIDILYN DIAZ received her P3 million check on Thursday from Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero (1-Pacman Partylist) as her financial reward for winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.
Romero personally handed the check to Diaz eight days since the proud daughter of Zamboanga City arrived from Tokyo.
“I personally delivered the promise I made last month because the joy and pride Hidilyn gave to our country was immeasurable,” Romero said. “I hope this will inspire other athletes to work harder to reach their dreams.”
The simple hand over ceremony was held at the Sofitel Hotel where Diaz and other members of her team stayed for a seven-day quarantine.
“We are really proud of you, Hidilyn. You embody the traits of a great warrior...hoping we win gold at every Olympics,” Romero added.
“I believe the Filipino athlete can do it!” Diaz said.
Romero said that the day Diaz carried the entire nation on her broad shoulders to great heights should be celebrated annually starting next year.
“What Hidilyn did was extra ordinary. I can still feel the magnitude of her victory,” said Romero, who was accompanied in the ceremony by Airasia executive Eric Arejola.
Not only did Diaz end the country’s 97 long years of agony and misfortunes on July 26, she also almost sent her touted Chinese rival to tears as she won the –55 kgs gold in record fashion.
Diaz lifted an Olympic record 127 kgs in the clean and jerk, her pet event, on the third and final attempt.
“That made her victory sweeter and memorable because it was an Olympic record,” added Romero who was part of the national delegation to the London 2012 Games, Diaz’s second Olympic appearance.
A silver medal winner in Rio de Janeiro five years ago, Diaz thanked Romero for being a genuine sports patron, saying his generosity will greatly help Filipino athletes in so many ways.
Romero pledged P3 million for a gold, P2 million for a silver and P1 million for a bronze in the Tokyo Olympics.