Sports leaders heap praises on ‘golden girl’ Hidilyn Diaz

CEBU, Philippines —  The country’s top sports leaders were in chorus in extolling Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz following her historic performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

On Monday night, the 30-year-old Diaz minted the Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold medal after reigning supreme   in the women’s 55kg class in record-setting fashion.

Diaz established an Olympic mark of 127kg in clean and jerk for a total lift of 224kg, which is also an Olympic record, to end Phl’s 97-year gold medal drought in the quadrennial games.

The monumental triumph of Diaz sparked an overflowing pride and joy in the hearts of her euphoric countrymen.

“I am fortunate to have witnessed her golden lift,” said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez. “Credit should go to Hidilyn for her hard work and the Filipino nation that fervently prayed for her.”

PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez chimed in:” In behalf of a grateful and appreciative nation amidst the crippling pandemic that has brought the nation to its knees- allow me to congratulate a true Filipino, the newest sporting idol this nation will forever remember in the annals of its sports hall of fame, Hidilyn Diaz.”

“Fittingly and ironically, the first golden performance by a Filipino athlete, ever, came in the sport of weightlifting, as if to say that a single athlete lifted the weight of a whole nation, though besieged with all the despair, frustration, hopelessness and sorrow, displayed strong determination, fortitude and resilience. That is the true Filipino! That is the true brave and valiant Filipino athlete!” added the living legend in Phl basketball

Ring legend Sen. Manny Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion who is currently in neck-deep training for his showdown with WBC/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence slated on August 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, is as ecstatic as the rest of the jubilant Filipino nation.

“This day will be remembered as one of the most significant and memorable days in our country’s sports history. This is the day we won our first Olympic Gold,” Pacquiao wrote on his Facebook page.  “You are a true hero, Hidilyn! The honor and happiness you have given to our Philippines is not negotiable.”

Diaz herself admitted that Pacquiao is her source of inspiration in scaling greater heights.

“When I met him (Pacquiao) I got inspired. I forget what his advice but what I really admire is his continuous winning. It’s hard to stay on top for so long,” Diaz told Olympics.com in recalling how Pacquiao impacted her career during the first time they met at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Sen. Bong Go, the committee chairman on sports at the Senate, said Diaz personifies the fighting spirit and resiliency of the Filipinos, always rising above every challenge.

“Congratulations to Hidilyn Diaz for winning the Philippines’ first ever gold medal in the entire history of the Olympic Games!” Go said in a statement. “Nakikiisa ako sa buong sambayanang Pilipino sa pag-saludo sa iyong husay at galing! Ang iyong pagsisikap, disiplina at tagumpay ay nagbibigay inspirasyon sa ating lahat, lalo na sa mga kabataang nagnanais na maging atleta rin tulad mo.”

“Seeing our flag flying high inspires us further to overcome the challenges and rise triumphant amid the crises we are facing. As chair of the Senate Committee on Sports and on behalf of the Filipino people, thank you for giving us hope and bringing pride once more to our beloved country,” Go ended. — EBV