Olympic gold medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz (Photo grabbed from Hidilyn Diaz's Facebook Page)
MANILA – Olympian Hidilyn Diaz's historic gold medal win at the Tokyo Games has shown the "immense" potential and strength of Filipino women, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
"As the nation celebrates Hidilyn's victory, I think about the immense potential of the Filipino youth women. Her triumph is proof of the Filipino woman's strength. Amidst these trying times, Hidilyn has given us so much joy and hope," Lorenzana said in a Facebook post Tuesday.
He sent his best wishes to Diaz, a Philippine Air Force sergeant when they met online about two weeks before her trip to Japan.
"Having heard of her win last night (Monday) made me exceptionally proud. The journey of this soldier-athlete was loaded with challenges. But she has beaten the odds because of her character and won for the Philippines its first-ever Olympic gold medal. What a milestone! She has brought honor and glory to herself, her family, and the entire country," Lorenzana said.
READ: 'I could hardly believe that I won gold': Hidilyn Diaz
Diaz bagged the country's first gold medal since it joined the Olympics in 1924 after dominating the women's 55-kg. weightlifting competition.
Hidilyn, a 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist, prevailed in a neck and neck showdown with China's Liao Qiuyun in the clean-and-jerk lift as their battle for the gold went down the wire.
Finishing tied with Diaz in the snatch with a 97-kg. maximum lift, Liao lifted 126 kg. in her final lift, forcing Diaz to go for 127 to steal the top spot from Liao.
Diaz, however, smoothly cleared the 127-kg. lift to win it all, also setting an Olympic record in the process. Her 224-kg. total is also an Olympic record. (PNA)
