Hidilyn Diaz Ends China’s Reign in Weightlifting To Win Philippines’ First-Ever Olympic Gold Medal

(Photo : VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images) Gold medalist Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz stand on the podium for the victory ceremony of the women's 55-kgs weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021.

The gold medal drought is finally over for the Philippines in the Olympics. Hidilyn Diaz ended 97 years of pain with a towering performance in the women's 55-kilogram division of weightlifting in the Tokyo Olympics to capture the Philippines' first-ever gold medal in the Summer Games.

Diaz needed to be at her best to end China's dominance in the sport in this year's Tokyo Games, lifting a total weight of 224 kilograms in the snatch and clean and jerk to set a new Olympic record. The 30-year-old just edged past China's Liao Qiuyun, who settled for the silver with a total lift of 223 kilograms.

Diaz outlasts Liao in epic clean and jerk showdown

Nothing could separate Diaz and Liao in the snatch part of the event as both female athletes lifted 97 kilograms. The pressure between the two protagonists ratcheted up once the clean and jerk part of the program began with Diaz and Liao trading heavyweight blows as they tried to outdo each other with their lifts to capture the coveted gold medal.

Liao successfully lifted her opening attempt in the clean and jerk of 118 kilograms. Diaz duly responded with an opening lift of 119 kilograms to regain the lead. Liao once again took the lead with her second attempt, lifting 123 kilograms, but Diaz answered back with a 124-kilogram lift to grab the advantage yet again.

Liao, the world record holder, opted to lift a weight of 126 kilograms down to her last attempt. The Chinese athlete looked to have salvaged the gold medal when she successfully executed her final attempt, but Diaz had other plans. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the Filipino people, Diaz produced the lift of her life, lifting an Olympic clean and jerk record of 127 kilograms in her final attempt to clinch the gold.

It was an extraordinary performance by Diaz, who was appearing in her fourth consecutive Olympics. Diaz mustered all of her power and experience in what might be her final Summer Games, besting her personal record of 223 kilograms that she set in the 2013 Philippine National Games.

Diaz nets huge prizes after record Olympic win

A lot has changed in Diaz's career since she posted that mark eight years ago. Diaz became the first female athlete to win a medal for the Philippines in the Olympics when she bagged the silver medal in the 2016 Rio Games, ending her country's 20-year medal drought in the quadrennial event.

Diaz continued her winning ways in the 2018 Asian Games when she won gold in Jakarta. However, this victory in Tokyo trumps all those previous achievements, as Diaz finally accomplished what no Filipino has ever done before, becoming an Olympic champion.

Riches await Diaz when she returns home from Tokyo. The Philippines' first gold medal winner is set to receive 33 million pesos worth of incentives from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the country's prominent tycoons.

It is incredible to think that just two years ago, Diaz was the one asking for financial support as she struggled with her training for the Tokyo Olympics. All the sacrifices were definitely worth it for Diaz, who etched her name in Philippine sports lore with her Olympic-winning performance Monday night.