Hidilyn Diaz

Hidilyn Francisco Diaz[2][3] (Tagalog pronunciation: [haɪdɪˈlin];[4] born February 20, 1991[5]) is a Filipino weightlifter and airwoman. She competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics where she was the youngest competitor in the women's 58-kg category.[6] She was a bronze medalist in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand and achieved 10th place at the 2006 Asian Games in the 53-kilogram class. And while a student of the Universidad de Zamboanga representing her university, she won two golds and one silver in the Asian Youth/Junior Weightlifting Championship held in Jeonju, South Korea.[7][8][9]

Hidilyn Diaz

Hidilyn Diaz Cleans 120kg at the 2019 Sea Games to secure a gold medal
Personal information
Nationality	Filipino
Born	(1991-02-20) February 20, 1991 Zamboanga City, Philippines
Height	1.49 m (4 ft 11 in)
Weight	54.90 kg (121 lb)
Military career
Allegiance	Philippines
Service/branch	Philippine Air Force
Years of service	2013–present
Rank	Sergeant[1]
Unit	Air Force Special Service Group, PAF Personnel Management Center, 710th Special Operations Wing
Awards	Military Merit Medal Presidential Citation Unit Badge
Sport
Country	Philippines
Sport	Weightlifting
Event(s)	–55 kg
Club	Zamboanga
Coached by	Kaiwen Gao (Weightlifting Coach) Julius Naranjo (Weightlifting/Strength and Conditioning Coach) Jeaneth Aro (Sports Nutritionist) Karen Trinidad (Sports Psychologist) Catalino Diaz (First Coach) Antonio Agustin Jr. (Former Coach)
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	223 kg
Medal record Representing the  Philippines Event 1st 2nd 3rd Summer Olympics 0 1 0 World Championships 0 0 3 Asian Games 1 0 0 Asian Championships 1 1 1 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 0 1 0 Southeast Asian Games 1 2 1 Total 3 5 5 Olympic Games 2016 Rio de Janeiro –53 kg World Championships 2019 Pattaya –55 kg 2017 Anaheim –53 kg 2015 Houston –53 kg Asian Games 2018 Jakarta–Palembang –53 kg Asian Championships 2015 Phuket –53 kg 2019 Ningbo –55 kg 2016 Tashkent –53 kg Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 Ashgabat –53 kg Southeast Asian Games 2019 Philippines –55 kg 2013 Naypyidaw –58 kg 2011 Jakarta-Palembang –58 kg 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima –58 kg

In the 2016 Summer Olympics, Diaz won the silver medal in the women's 53-kg weight division, ending the Philippines' 20-year Olympic medal drought. She is also the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal of any color.

Early life and education

Hidilyn Diaz is the fifth of six children of Eduardo and Emelita Diaz. Her father was a tricycle driver before becoming a farmer and a fisherman. She grew up wanting to be a banker and trying several sports, like basketball and volleyball.[10] Her cousin, Allen Jayfrus Diaz, taught her the basics of weightlifting.[11]

She attended the Universidad de Zamboanga where she pursued a bachelor's degree in computer science. However, Diaz stopped attending the university as a third year irregular student as she found her degree unsuitable for her. She also claimed that it distracted her training. After her stint in the 2016 Olympics, Diaz decided to continue her tertiary education and intended to pursue a degree related to sports in Manila.[12]

In January 2017, Diaz received a scholarship to study business management at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.[13]

In 2018, Diaz went on a leave of absence for her schooling as she had focused on Olympic Preparation after winning the Asian Games.

In 2020, Diaz had re-enrolled into online classes since the Summer Olympics had been postponed to July 2021.

Competitive career

2008 Summer Olympics

Diaz was selected as a wild card entry to the Summer Olympics by the Philippine Weightlifting Association in early 2008.[14] She is the first female weightlifter to compete for the Philippines in the Olympics, and the second weightlifter overall (the first being, Ramon Solis).[15] Competing in the women's 58-kg class, 17-year-old Diaz lifted 85-kg in the snatch and 107-kg in the clean and jerk for a 192-kg total, breaking the Philippine record that she herself set at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games.[16] Although she placed second to last in a field of 12 weightlifters, her performance was praised and considered promising for her age. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez once commented that she competed there to gain valuable experience and predicted that she would be a strong contender in future competitions.[17]

2012 Summer Olympics

Diaz became the first Filipina weightlifter to compete in two consecutive Olympics, by qualifying in the women's weightlifting under 58 kg through the Continental and World Qualifying Tournaments. She was ranked ninth in her event heading to the Olympics. During the 2012 London Olympics, Diaz was chosen to be the flagbearer during the Opening Ceremony.[18][19][20]

She was coached by Tony Agustin, and they projected a 225 kg lift, above her personal best of 219 kg.[21] She successfully lifted a personal best of 287 97 kg in the snatch, 12th best among the 19 competitors. However her 118 kg Clean and Jerk was unsuccessful after three attempts. She is one of two competitors (along with Lina Rivas of Colombia) to end with an official result of "Did not finish" (DNF) in the event.[22]

2015–16 season

Diaz (second from left) with Cecil Atilano, Beng Climaco and Nestor Colonia being recognized by Zamboanga City Mayor Mayor Beng Climaco for their performance in the 2015 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Phuket, Thailand

Hidilyn Diaz weighed around 56.28 kg during her first Olympic campaign, making her the lightest among competitors. Come 2012 Olympics, Hidilyn Diaz increased her weight to 57.70 kg but still struggled making it to the top half of the competition. Trying to improve her chances of landing a podium finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Diaz decided to drop weight from under 58 kg to under 53 kg. This proved to be effective as she recently snatched the gold medal in the 1st Southeast Asian Weightlifting Championship in Bangkok.[23] She managed to lift a 98 kg snatch and a 115 kg clean and jerk for a 213 kg total. The same mark is good for 4th place in the 2012 London Olympics.

In the Asian Weightlifting Championships, Diaz copped a gold medal in 2015 and a bronze medal in 2016.[10] She also earned three bronze medals for the clean, jerk and snatch events in the 53 kg division of the IWF World Weightlifting Championship held in Houston, Texas on November 22, 2015 to claim a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics.[24][25][26]

In March 2016, Diaz dominated the women's 58 kg event of the 2015-16 Philippine National Games National Finals held at Lingayen Town Plaza, Lingayen, Pangasinan, with a 92 kg snatch and 120 kg clean and jerk (new personal best) combined into 212 kg.[27]

2016 Summer Olympics

In the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Diaz competed in her 3rd consecutive Olympics in the women's 53kg weightlifting category with the intention of at least winning a bronze medal.[28] Diaz surpassed her own personal target and won the silver medal at the event, after successfully clinching a lift of 88 kg in her second attempt in snatch event (placed 6th) and 111 kg and 112 kg in the first and second attempts in the clean and jerk event (placed 2nd).[29] This was the first medal for the Philippines in the Summer Olympics after 20 years. This was also the first non-boxing medal for the nation since 1936. Aside from being the first Filipina weightlifter to compete in three consecutive Olympics, she also became the first Filipino woman and first Mindanaoan to win an Olympic medal.

On August 8, 2016, she returned to her hometown, Zamboanga City and was welcomed as a Hero of the city,[30] She was able to buy land for her sibling and for her gym[10] from receiving numerous incentives from the Philippine president, Philippine Sports Commission and her local city.[31]

2018 Asian Games

Diaz (third from left), with three other gold medalists (Loisa Kaye Go, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Yuka Saso) for the Philippines at the 2018 Asian Games.

Diaz participated in the Women's 53 kilogram (kg) weightlifting event in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Diaz had a total lift of 207 kg, beating Turkmenistan's Kristina Shermetova (206 kg) and Thailand's Surodchana Khambao (201 kg) to deliver the Philippines' first gold in the 2018 games,[32][33] as well as the first Filipino weightlifter of any gender to win a gold medal in the Asian Games.

2019

After winning a bronze in the 2017 World Championships, Diaz again got a bronze in the 2019 edition of the same event. She also won a silver in the 2019 Asian Championship, and another gold in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila.[10]

2020

In 2020 she won the gold medal in the women's 55kg event at the Roma 2020 World Cup in Rome, Italy.[34][35]

Military career

Diaz in military attire with her medals. 2016

Diaz was recruited into the Philippine Air Force (PAF) through the military arm's Direct Enlistment Program in 2013. She was initially assigned to the Air Force Special Service Group. She was also given an Air Force Specialty Code skill in recreation in weightlifting. In 2014, she was given a promotion from the rank of Airwoman to Airwoman Second Class. Diaz was also a recipient of a Military Merit Medal for organizing PAF events and a Presidential Citation Unit Badge. When Diaz was training for her stint at the 2016 Summer Olympics, she was assigned to PAF Personnel Management Center on a temporary basis. For her achievement at the Olympics, she was given a promotion by the PAF. The extent of the promotion was initially not disclosed[36] but it was later reported that Diaz was promoted to the rank of Airwoman First Class.[1] Following Diaz's stint in the 2018 Asian Games, she was promoted to Airwoman Sergeant.

In popular media

Diaz' life was dramatized in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, a drama anthology series, aired on September 24, 2016. She was portrayed by Jane Oineza.[37]

Personal life

Diaz is dating Julius Naranjo a former weightlifter who competed for Guam in international competitions[38] and a professional weightlifting coach, a strength and conditioning Coach, and filmmaker. They featured together in the GMA Network's Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho where their relationship was featured.[39]

Awards and recognitions

On February 13, 2017, Diaz was awarded as the Athlete of the Year of the Philippine Sportswriters Association.[40]

References

1. "Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz receives Airforce rank promotion". GMA News. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
2. DIAZ Hidilyn. 2008 Beijing Olympics.
3. "Air Force Weightlifter Nabs Silver in Rio 2016, First Pinay Olympic Medalist in 20 Years". Philippine Air Force. August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
4. "SEA Games: Hidilyn Diaz panalo ng gold sa weightlifting | TV Patrol". ABS-CBN News on YouTube. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
5. "DIAZ, Hidilyn". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
6. "15 Filipinos battle odds, Olympic gold ‘curse’" Archived August 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Inquirer.net, August 9, 2008
7. City commends Zamboangueño weightlifters. Zamboanga.gov.ph (December 15, 2008). Retrieved on June 28, 2016.
8. Hidilyn Diaz. nbcolympics.com
9. Bracher, Jane (August 9, 2016). "Meet Alfonsito Aldanete, the weightlifting coach who helped Diaz win silver". Rappler. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
10. https://tv5.espn.com/story/_/id/28322792/hidilyn-diaz
11. Pareño, Roel (August 9, 2016). "Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz: From homemade barbell to Rio silver". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
12. Saberon-Abalayan, Marianne (August 11, 2016). "Diaz to pursue college after Rio". Sun Star Davao. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
13. Villanueva, Kristina (January 12, 2017). "Benilde gives Hidilyn big lift to chase dream". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
14. Hidilyn Diaz lifts self to Olympic heights, Manila Standard Today
15. Love can wait for Hidilyn, Manila Standard Today (August 11, 2008)
16. Diaz falters; Walsh up next, Manila Standard Today
17. Diaz, Walsh start bid today, Manila Standard Today (August 11, 2008)
18. Bolante, Mikkel (July 30, 2012) Filipino flag-bearer Hidilyn Diaz begins Olympic weightlifting campaign Archived July 3, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Interaksyon
19. Hidilyn Diaz Archived March 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
20. Philippines Archived August 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
21. "Hidilyn tries to do better". manilastandardtoday.com. Manila Standard Today. July 30, 2012. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
22. Olivares, Rick (July 21, 2016). "Could third Olympics be the charm for Hidilyn Diaz?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
23. Reuben Terrado (June 27, 2015). "Hidilyn Diaz makes up for SEA Games absence by bagging gold in 1st Southeast Asian Weightlifting Championship". Spin PH. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
24. "Filipina Hidilyn Diaz wins 3 bronzes at World Weightlifting Championship". Rappler. November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
25. "PH lifter Hidilyn Diaz books ticket to Rio Olympics". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 28, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
26. "Continental Qualification current standing". International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
27. "Teodosio nagtala ng juniors record sa Philippine National Games". Bandera (in Tagalog). March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
28. "Hidilyn Diaz hoped for Olympic bronze, feels blessed by silver". Rappler. August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
29. Bracher, Jane (August 8, 2016). "Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz nabs silver, PH's first Olympic medal in 20 years". Rappler. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
30. Diaz accorded a hero's welcome in Zamboanga City | ABS-CBN News. News.abs-cbn.com (August 12, 2016). Retrieved on September 2, 2016.
31. Hidilyn Diaz to receive P5-M, other benefits for winning silver in Rio Olympics | InterAksyon.com | Sports5 Archived August 12, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. InterAksyon.com (August 8, 2016). Retrieved on September 2, 2016.
32. http://sports.inquirer.net/316009/weightlifting-hidilyn-diaz-wins-philippines-first-gold-medal-in-2018-asian-games/amp
33. http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2018/08/21/Hidilyn-Diaz-first-gold-Philippines-2018-Asian-Games-weightlifting.html
34. "2020 Roma World Cup" (PDF). Federazione Italiana Pesistica. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
35. Flores-Colina, Celest (January 28, 2020). "Hidilyn Diaz wins 3 gold medals in Weightlifting World Cup". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
36. Santos, Rudy; Sy, Marvin; Mendez, Christina (August 10, 2016). "Olympian Hidilyn to be promoted in PAF". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
37. "Olympic heroine Hidilyn Diaz's life story featured on TV drama 'Maalaala Mo Kaya'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. September 22, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
38. Tomas, Jojo Santo. "Meet Guam's Team for the Asian Indoor Games: Weightlifting". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
39. "Weighlifting golden girl Hidilyn Diaz also wins at love". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
40. "Rio Olympic feat gives Hidilyn PSA top award". The Philippine Star. January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.

External links

• Hidilyn Diaz at the International Weightlifting Federation
• Hidilyn Diaz at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)

Olympic Games
Preceded by Manny Pacquiao	Flagbearer for  Philippines London 2012	Succeeded by Michael Christian Martinez