President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday lauded Hidilyn Diaz for winning three gold medals in the 55-kg. division of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Bogota, Colombia.
“Muli na namang nagpamalas ng natatanging galing ang kauna-unahan nating Olympic gold medalist na si Hidilyn Diaz sa kanyang pagkapanalo ng mga gintong medalya sa 2022 World Weightlifting Championships (Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz has once again showcased her skills to the world after bagging gold medals at the 2022 World Weighlifting Championships),” Marcos said in a tweet.
He further commended the 31-year-old weightlifting icon for bringing honor to the country by earning the World Championship crown.
“Kaisa ko ang buong bansa sa pagbibigay pugay sa iyo, Hidilyn, sa patuloy mong pagsusumikap upang magsilbing inspirasyon sa maraming Pilipino, at makapag-uwi ng karangalan para sa ating bayan (I am one with the country in giving tribute to you, Hidilyn, for striving to serve as an inspiration to many Filipinos and bringing honor to the Philippines),” he added.
Diaz, a gold winner in the Southeast Asian Games (2019 and 2022) and Asian Games (2018), registered 93 kg. in snatch and 114 kg. in clean and jerk for a total of 207 kg.
In the snatch, she successfully lifted 90 kg. and 93 kg. but she failed on her third attempt to lift 96 kg.
In the clean and jerk, Diaz lifted 114 kg. on her first try while her next two attempts, 117 kg. and 121 kg., were considered bad lifts.
Colombian Rosalba Estela Morales del Aguila, 24, had a total lift of 199 kg. (89 kg. in snatch and 110 kg. in clean and jerk) to claim the silver medal.
Mexico’s Ana Gabriela Lopez Ferrer, 28, tallied 198 kg. (90 kg. in snatch and 108 kg. in clean and jerk) to settle for the bronze medal.
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella presented the gold medal to Diaz during the awarding ceremony.
“She’s a phenomenal athlete and world champion. She’ll do anything to bring pride and inspiration to the country. No pain no gain. Inspires our country. We have six more lifters trying to qualify for (the) Paris 2024 Olympics. This is just the beginning,” Puentevella said. (PNA)
