How Hidilyn Diaz Got The Silver Olympic Medal
The Philippines gets its first Olympic medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics as Hidilyn Diaz scored 200kg at the women’s 53kg category in weightlifting, bags silver.
In an article by CNN, it was mentioned that after 20 long years, the country once more gains a medal after boxer Onyok Velasco got a silver medal during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
With Diaz’ victory, she became the first Filipina to earn an Olympic medal and listing a third silver medal in the history of the Philippines.
Hidilyn Diaz already represented the Philippines in two Olympic Games wherein Rio was her third trip. During the event on Monday, August 8, Diaz lifted 88kg in her snatch attempt and then in the clean and jerk totaling to a 200kg lift. The Filipina placed second after Chinese-Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching.
Diaz, 25, was from Zamboanga City. She also won medals in different international weightlifting competition such as the 2015 World Weightlifting Championships wherein Diaz got the bronze medal. Also, she is a gold medal winner in Asia.
Even though Diaz failed to lift the two out three attempts for the snatch event and tallied just 88kg, she became optimistic and made a recovery in the clean and jerk lift. She lifted 111kg at the very first attempt and a 112kg lift in the second attempt. Though, on the last attempt, she failed to lift 117kg.
Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching finished with a total of 212kg for the gold medal, Diaz, 200kg for the silver, and Yoon Jin Hee of Korea lifted 199kg taking the bronze.
Watch the FULL video on how Hidilyn Diaz got the Olympic silver medal for the Philippines. (NEXT PAGE)