Hidilyn Diaz never abandoned the desire to finish her studies at the College of St. Benilde even though she was already at the peak of her career after clinching the country’s first gold medal in the Olympic Games.
For bringing pride to her school and country, the Benildean community honored the lady weightlifter with what it now calls the “Benilde Medallion”, given for the first time to any individual of the school.
“It is the symbol of Benildean identity, of doing ordinary things extraordinarily well,” said St. Benilde president Bro. President Edmundo Fernandez.
“The Benilde Medallion is DLS-CSB’s highest expression of institutional recognition and appreciation of individuals for their extraordinary achievements and contributions.”
Diaz received the honor during a courtesy call at the Benilde Sports and Dormitory Complex on Wednesday.
In the same occasion, Fernandez also announced the launching of the Benilde Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship for Athletes for the school-year 2022-2023.
The Zamboanga lass ended the Philippines’ long 97-year search for Olympic glory by bagging a historic breakthrough gold medal in the women’s 55-kg event of the Tokyo Olympiad last year.
In the previous Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, she bagged a weightlifting silver, making her the most prolific athlete in Philippine Olympic history.
Just a few days ago, Diaz was named by the Philippine Sportswriters Association as the Athlete of the Year awardee for the year 2021.
Diaz will receive the accolade on March 14 during the San Miguel Corporation-PSA Awards Night at the grand ballroom of the Diamond Hotel.