Hidilyn Diaz is an Olympic weightlifting record holder by winning the women's 55 kg category for weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
39 Facts About Hidilyn Diaz
2.
Hidilyn Diaz competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she was the youngest competitor in the women's 58-kg category.
3.
Hidilyn Francisco Diaz is the fifth of six children of Eduardo and Emelita Diaz.
4.
Hidilyn Diaz's father was a tricycle driver before becoming a farmer and a fisherman.
5.
Hidilyn Diaz grew up wanting to be a banker and trying several sports, like basketball and volleyball.
6.
However, Hidilyn Diaz stopped attending the university as a third year irregular student as she found her degree unsuitable for her.
7.
In January 2017, Hidilyn Diaz received a scholarship to study business management at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
8.
In 2019, Hidilyn Diaz went on a leave of absence for her schooling as she had focused on Olympic Preparation after winning the Asian Games.
9.
In 2020, Hidilyn Diaz had re-enrolled into online classes since the Summer Olympics had been postponed to July 2021.
10.
Hidilyn Diaz had to do part-time work; selling vegetables and fish and washing jeepneys to fund her transportation to a local gymnasium.
11.
Hidilyn Diaz went on to compete in various local and national competitions and secured support from the local government.
12.
Hidilyn Diaz became part of the Philippine national weightlifting team at age 13.
13.
Hidilyn Diaz was selected as a wild card entry to the Summer Olympics by the Philippine Weightlifting Association in early 2008.
14.
Hidilyn Diaz is the first female weightlifter to compete for the Philippines in the Olympics, and the sixth weightlifter overall.
15.
Hidilyn Diaz was ranked ninth in her event heading to the Olympics.
16.
Hidilyn Diaz was one of two competitors to end with an official result of "Did not finish" in the event.
17.
Hidilyn Diaz participated in the women's 53 kg event in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
18.
Hidilyn Diaz won a silver in the 2019 Asian Championship, and another gold in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila.
19.
On July 26,2021, Hidilyn Diaz won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
20.
Hidilyn Diaz fought mental breakdown during her ordeal, especially with the postponement of the 2020 Olympics, and credits her team, including sports psychologist Dr Karen Katrina Trinidad and Project: Steady with trauma therapist Gang Badoy Capati for her well-being.
21.
Hidilyn Diaz kept busy during her training overseas during COVID-19 lockdown by cooking, attending meetings, and studying.
22.
On May 20,2022, Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz won her second gold medal win during the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
23.
Hidilyn Diaz made her competitive debut in the 59kg division at the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships in South Korea.
24.
Hidilyn Diaz placed 4th by lifting a total of 221 kg.
25.
Hidilyn Diaz was recruited into the Philippine Air Force through the military arm's Direct Enlistment Program in 2013.
26.
Hidilyn Diaz was initially assigned to the Air Force Special Service Group.
27.
Hidilyn Diaz was given an Air Force Specialty Code skill in recreation in weightlifting.
28.
Hidilyn Diaz was a recipient of a Military Merit Medal for organizing PAF events and a Presidential Citation Unit Badge.
29.
When Hidilyn Diaz was training for her stint at the 2016 Summer Olympics, she was assigned to PAF Personnel Management Center on a temporary basis.
30.
The extent of the promotion was initially not disclosed but it was later reported that Hidilyn Diaz was promoted to the rank of Airwoman First Class.
31.
Hidilyn Diaz was consecutively promoted to the rank of Sergeant after the 2018 Asian Games.
32.
Hidilyn Diaz is a devout Catholic and credits her faith with inspiring her athletic achievements.
33.
Hidilyn Diaz married her fiance and coach, Julius Naranjo, in a ceremony held at St Ignatius Church in the Philippine Military Academy grounds, Baguio, on July 26,2022, exactly a year after she clinched the country's first Olympic gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
34.
Hidilyn Diaz first met with Naranjo at the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
35.
Hidilyn Diaz initially found the allegation laughable, and numerous government officials came to her defense, saying the inclusion of her name and that of fellow athlete Gretchen Ho was ridiculous, but Diaz eventually came to the realization that the inclusion of her name was a threat to her safety and that of her family.
36.
Hidilyn Diaz's life leading to her silver medal win in the 2016 Summer Olympics was dramatized in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, a drama anthology series, aired on September 24,2016.
37.
On February 14,2017, Hidilyn Diaz was awarded as the Athlete of the Year of the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
38.
Hidilyn Diaz is the recipient of two honors from the Philippine House of Representatives; the Congressional Medals of Distinction in 2016 and the Congressional Medal of Excellence in 2021.
39.
The CME, intended for Filipino Olympic gold medalists, was instituted by the Congress' lower house after Hidilyn Diaz won the first ever gold medal for the country in the 2020 Summer Olympics.