Hidilyn Diaz earns praises from PH sports personalities after historic gold

As the whole country celebrated history made by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz at the Tokyo Olympics, fellow athletes and officials from other sports quickly showed how proud they are for the Filipina athlete.

Diaz won the gold in the women's 55kg category to end a near century-long Olympic gold medal drought since the Philippines first saw action in the Games in 1924.

And several Filipino sports personalities made sure to be with Diaz in spirit as she lifted 127 kg in the clean and jerk to clinch the gold.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and PBA's winningest head coach, Tim Cone, took to Twitter to congratulate Diaz.

Just think of all the work Hidilyn has done through her lifetime to get to this point. An Olympic GOLD Medal!!!

— Tim Cone (@manilacone) July 26, 2021

Cone highlighted Diaz' sacrifices and hard work to get to this point.

"Just think of all the work Hidilyn has done through her lifetime to get to this point. An Olympic GOLD Medal!!!"

Fellow hoops coach Patrick Aquino, meanwhile, posted a throwback photo he had with Diaz and Gilas Pilipinas women mainstay Jack Animam.

F2 Logistics middle blocker and a former national team member Aby Maraño was also elated on Diaz' historic feat.

The former DLSU standout even called Diaz 'weightlifting fairy', in reference to famous Korean TV Drama 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo'.

Congratulations ???? weighting fairy ng Pinas @diaz_hidilyn ????????‍?? GOLD ???? Deserve mo sis promise!

— ???????????????????? ???????????? ???? (@Abymarano) July 26, 2021

Others, like volleyball star Alyssa Valdez, were able to express their admiration in the simplest way possible.

HIDILYN DIAZ!!!!

— Alyssa Valdez (@AlyssaValdez2) July 26, 2021

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News