2020 Tokyo Olympics: Philippines weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins country's first ever gold medal
Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines made history on Monday at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 30-year-old weightlifter finished in first place in the women's 55 kilogram category to win the first ever Olympic gold medal for her country. She lifted a combined weight of 224 kilograms (493.8 pounds) -- good for an Olympic record.
In an event that was extremely close, Diaz was overcome with emotion as she earned the victory. She placed her hands on her face and burst into tears as she was awarded the gold medal.
In an awesome moment, the weightlifter then sang the Philippines' national anthem at the top of her lungs at the podium.
Diaz faced some stiff competition in Tokyo. China's Liao Qiuyun won the silver medal, as she fell short of Diaz's mark by just one kilogram. In addition, Kazakhstan's Zulfiya Chinshanlo took home the bronze medal, lifting 213 kilograms.
To make Diaz's win more impressive, her competition knew about winning big events. At the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships, Qiuyun set a world record in the clean & jerk with a lift of 128 kilograms, which matched Diaz by 15 kilograms. Chinshanlo, meanwhile, won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, but was later stripped of the gold medal after she failed doping tests.