Benilde Business Management student and Philippines' own weightlifting legend Hidilyn Diaz brought home the Olympic gold medal in the 55kg Women's Weightlifting category with a total of 224kg during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games yesterday, July 26, ending Philippines' 97-year wait.

Diaz won the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal with a total combined score of 224kg in the snatch and clean and jerk category, respectively. She is followed by Chinese representative Quiyun Liao who scored a total of 223kg for the silver medal and Kazakhstani representative Zulfiya Chinshanlo for the bronze medal with a total of 213kg. 

She finished second at the snatch event of the 55kg Women’s Weightlifting category after failing to lift her third snatch attempt at 99kg. Having settled for 97kg in her second attempt, the Benildean fell behind Uzbekistani representative Muattar Nabieva, who lifted 98 kg. China’s Liao tied with Diaz at 97kg, finishing the event with a 120kg total lift.

Diaz successfully swept the clean and jerk event, carrying 127kg in her third and last attempt for the gold finish after going head-to-head against Liao with 126kg. Liao was followed by Chinshanlo, who also lifted 123kg in her second attempt during the event.

ERRATUM: The Benildean made an error in the article published online on July 27, 2021 titled "Weightlifting superstar Hidilyn Diaz makes history with PH’s first Olympic gold" which stated that Diaz had won three Olympic medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Diaz had won one Olympic gold medal in the 55kg Women's Weightlifting category in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. We have corrected this by revising the lede to "Benilde Business Management student and Philippines' own weightlifting legend Hidilyn Diaz brought home the Olympic gold medal in the 55kg Women's Weightlifting category with a total of 224kg during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games yesterday, July 26, ending Philippines' 97-year wait."

We apologize for this mistake.