Diaz lifts PH hopes with silver
Three-time Olympian ends PHL’s 20-year medal drought in Olympics, wins silver medal in Rio
POVERTY drove Hidilyn Diaz to dream big even as a child, recalling times when their family of eight--she is the fifth in the brood of six-would eat meals of rice just seasoned with soy sauce or salt.
But she has indeed come a long way after clinching the women’s 53 kg silver medal of the 2016 Rio Olympics weightlifting competition at the Riocentro Pavilion 2 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil early yesterday morning with a P5-million cash incentive and a brand new Deca Homes house-and-lot awaiting her return.
She has also earned the feat of ending the 20- year Olympic medal drought of the country as well as becoming the first Filipina and first Mindanaoan to win an Olympic medal.
Diaz, who is in her third Olympics at 25 years old, got the silver medal early morning yesterday in Rio, ending the Philippines’ 20-year drought. The last medal, also a silver, was won by Mansueto Velasco in boxing in Atlanta 1996.
Diaz cleared 112 kilos in her second attempt in the clean and jerk, finishing with 200 total in the 53-kilo division. Diaz said she was just expecting a bronze medal but favorite Li Yajun failed in her attempt to lift 123 kilos, giving the silver medal to Diaz.
Hsu Shu-Ching of Chinese Taipei won the gold, while Korea’s Yoon Jin Hee got the bronze.
“I don’t know how kami nairaos nila Mamang at Papang. Maraming mga challenges din, yung iigib ka ng tubig, magbenta ng gulay dahil dating farmer si Papang ko at nagbenta ng isda. Elementary ako nun,” the 25-year-old native of Mampang, Zamboanga City told Sun.Star Davao.
Now, she can give her parents the perfect gift.
“Ha? May house-and-lot pa! Ang P5 million ang laki na, gusto ko nga lang P1.5 million (laughs) kasi yung lupa sa tabi ng bahay namin bibilhin ko para sa weightlifting club. Yun talaga ang goal ko to help the weightlifters para hindi sila sumuko sa life at ma-inspire ko ang mga bata na may way out sa paghihirap,” she said.
All she expected was a bronze finish in her third Olympic stint, saying that the pressure in the competition was really tough.
“Expected ko lang mag bronze ako kasi nga ang pressure ng laro iba talaga. Prayers.. tapos sabi ko paano ba yun sa training ba’t di ko magawa. Nilagay ko lang sarili ko sa lugar kung anong dapat kong gawin, anong dapat na i- tight na muscle. God’s grace nakaya ko,” said Diaz. Sun.Star Davao.