The Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission on Thursday congratulated Tokyo Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz for her three-gold sweep at the 2022 International Weightlifting Federation World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia.
Diaz-Naranjo won three golds in the women’s 55kg division on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time), a first for the Philippines in the tournament.
“This recent breakthrough of Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz is proof that Filipinos are strong and talented individuals,” said POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. “We are truly grateful to Team HD for this is a result of hard work … a combination of determination, continuous training and confidence … and she knows that there are people behind her who truly supports her.”
PSC chairman Jose Emmanuel “Noli” M. Eala, on the other hand, said: “Hidilyn has proven once again that the fire in her heart to be second to none in her field continues to burn and remains the benchmark by which every weightlifter and Filipino athlete must measure themselves against. The PSC will forever be proud of Hidilyn as the epitome of a great champion and will always provide support in her continuing quest to bring honor to our country. Mabuhay!”
During the competition Diaz, cleared 93 kgs in snatch, 114 kgs in clean and jerk, for a total lift of 207 kg., outlifting Colombia’s Rosalba Morales and Mexico’s Ana Gabriela Lopez.
The win added the elusive world title to Diaz’s trophy case which includes gold medals from the Olympics, Asian Games, and Southeast Asian Games.
Aside from Diaz-Naranjo, other Filipino weightlifters are expected to vie for medals in the world tilt and slots to the 2024 Paris Olympics, including Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando, Asian champion Vanessa Sarno, Kristel Macrohon, and Dave Lloyd Pacaldo.
The PSC took care of all possible support to Diaz and her team on their participation in this event.