Hidilyn Diaz wins PH's first Olympic gold medal

Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz delivered the country's first-ever gold medal in the Olympics after winning the women's 55-kg weightlifting event of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Monday at the Tokyo International Forum.

This put an end to a near century-long Olympic gold medal drought since the Philippines first competed in the games in 1924. The country has since won three silvers and seven bronze medals but the gold proved elusive until this moment.

Diaz had previously won a silver medal in the women's 53-kg category in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In Tokyo, Diaz finished with a total score 224 kg, lifting 97 in the snatch and 127 in the clean & jerk to outduel China's Liao Qiuyun for the gold.

Liao, the world record holder in the 55-kg weight class, finished with a 223. Kazakhstan's Zulfiya Chinshanlo picked up the bronze medal with a 213.

Diaz was impressive from the get-go.

The 30-year-old veteran successfully cleared her first and second attempts at snatch with 94 and 97kgs, respectively. However, she got a no-lift decision on her third try at 99kg.

In the clean and jerk, Diaz successfully lifts 119kg in her first attempt while also lifting 124kg in the second attempt. She lifted 127 in the third try.

Diaz was a silver medalist during the 2016 edition of the quadrennial meet in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil while also clinching a gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

This is Diaz’s fourth consecutive Olympic appearance.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News