RIO Olympic Games’ silver medalist AW1C Hidilyn F. Diaz expressed hope that more support and incentives will be given to athletes participating in weightlifting.
She also wished that Zamboanga City, her hometown, will become the country’s hub for weightlighting and be given the necessary equipment and facilities to make this happen.
Diaz said such support will be a definite morale boost to athletes.
She made this statement shortly after being presented by the “Outstanding Achievement Medal” by Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya at the GHQ Canopy Area, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday.
Diaz was also given a “Plaque of Recognition” for her “extraordinary achievement and distinguished service rendered as the first female Filipino athlete to win a silver medal (in the Olympic Games).”
“Airwoman First Class Diaz brought national pride which merited public recognition of the highest order for her accomplishment as the country’s lone athlete-delegate to the said international event to win a medal for the Philippines,” Diaz’s “Outstanding Achievement Medal” citation read.
The silver medalist was given a hero’s welcome by the Philippine Air Force last Aug. 18 in an awarding ceremony at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
She was also promoted to the AW1C or one step higher from her former rank of AW2C
The 25-year-old Diaz, a native of Zamboanga City, won her silver medal in the women’s 58kg class event, which was won by Chinese Hsu Shu-ching of Chinese Taipei via a record-breaking fashion.
In the snatch event, she only tallied 88 kgs, but recovered in the clean and jerk lift, successfully lifting a 112 kg lift in her second attempt, for a total of 200 kg, against Hsu.
Her silver medal win on Aug. 7 (Brazil time) was the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in 20 years and the first ever for a Filipina.
The last time the Philippines won a medal in the Olympics was in 1996 when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco competed in the light-flyweight category in boxing in the Atlanta Olympic Games.