Before She Lifted Gold, She Carried the Weight of a Nation
Before Hidilyn Diaz became the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist in history, her journey was defined by hardship, heartbreak, and relentless determination.
Born in Zamboanga City to a poor family, Hidilyn started weightlifting using improvised barbells made of water bottles and broomsticks. With no formal gym and limited support, she trained in makeshift conditions, often without proper equipment or shoes.
She competed in her first Olympics at just 17 but failed to make a mark. In the 2012 London Olympics, she placed last—unable to complete a single lift in the clean and jerk. The loss crushed her. She considered quitting the sport entirely.
But Hidilyn refused to give up. Battling injuries, lack of funding, and even cyberbullying, she pushed through. She crowdfunded to attend training camps abroad. In Malaysia, during the pandemic, she trained under lockdown in a small garage using borrowed weights.
Then came the moment of redemption.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she competed in the women’s 55kg category. In a tense final round, she lifted 127kg in the clean and jerk—breaking the Olympic record and beating China’s world champion by just one kilogram.
Hidilyn Diaz made history.
Her gold wasn’t just a medal. It was proof that with grit, heart, and sacrifice, Filipinos can stand on the top of the world.
JP2021.COM