Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal in the Olympic Games on Monday night in Tokyo, Japan. (Screengrab from Tokyo 2020)

Hidilyn Diaz on Monday secured the first-ever gold medal for the Philippines, winning the women’s 55-kilogram (kg) category for weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics in Japan. 

The four-time Olympian lifted a combined weight of 224 kg, breaking out in tears after completing her final and record-breaking lift.

Ms. Diaz lifted 97 kg in the snatch and completed her gold conquest by lifting 127 kg – an Olympic record — in the clean and jerk in her final attempt.  

The 30-year-old weightlifter beat China’s Liao Qiuyun Liao, who settled for a silver with a total of 223 kg.

Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo won the bronze with a total of 213 kg.

Ms. Diaz won a silver medal in the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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