PRAISE FOR WORLD CHAMPION HIDILYN DIAZ

Congratulatory messages flooded social media feeds Thursday, December 8, praising Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz triple gold victory in the IWF World Weightlifting Championships 2022 in Bogota, Colombia to finally complete her illustrious resume.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, in a statement, said that Diaz’s recent breakthrough is “proof that Filipinos are strong and talented individuals.”

“We are truly grateful to Team HD for this is a result of hard work, a combination of determination, continuous training, and confidence, and she knows that there are people behind her who truly support her,” the POC chief said.

Tolentino also said, “Greatness comes when special people congregate and unite for a common goal. With the help of the sports community and Hidilyn’s effort, truly her talent is uniquely a force to be reckoned with.”

He ended his statement, by saying, “We firmly believe that our preparation for the Paris Olympics is timely.”

Praise from PSC to Hidilyn Diaz

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Jose Emmanuel “Noli” M. Eala also congratulated Diaz in an official statement.

“Hidilyn has proven once again that the fire in her heart to be second to none in her field continues to burn and remains the benchmark by which every weightlifter and Filipino athlete must measure themselves,” the PSC chief said.

He continued, “The PSC will forever be proud of Hidilyn as the epitome of a great champion and will always provide support in her continuing quest to bring honor to our country. Mabuhay!”

The 31-year-old Diaz recorded a total lift of 207kg after clearing 93kg in the snatch and 114kg in the clean and jerk, besting her opponents Colombia’s Rosalba Morales and Mexico’s Ana Gabriela Lopez who ended up with the silver and bronze, respectively.

Her feat ended her chase for the elusive world championship title as her collection already has golds won in the Olympics, Asian Games, and Southeast Asian Games.

The PSC funded Diaz and her team’s participation in Colombia. Other Filipino weightlifters also entered in the world championships are Nestor Colonia, fellow Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando, Asian champion Vanessa Sarno, Kristel Macrohon, and Dave Lloyd Pacaldo.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Jose Emmanuel “Noli” M. Eala, in an official statement, said, “Hidilyn has proven once again that the fire in her heart to be second to none in her field continues to burn and remains the benchmark by which every weightlifter and Filipino athlete must measure themselves against.”

“The PSC will forever be proud of Hidilyn as the epitome of a great champion and will always provide support in her continuing quest to bring honor to our country. Mabuhay!,” Eala added.

Praise from Senator Christopher Bong Go

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chair of the Senate committee on sports, also congratulated Diaz.

On his Facebook, the Dabwenyo senator wrote, “Isang panibagong karangalan muli ang naiuwi mo para sa Pilipinas. Natatangi talaga ang iyong husay at lakas sa pagkamit mo ng gintong medalya sa kategoryang Women’s 55 kg. sa 2022 World Weightlifting Championships sa Bogota, Colombia (You have brought home yet another honor for the Philippines. Your skill and strength are truly unique in winning the gold medal in the Women’s 55 kg category at the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia).”

“Muli, ang aking taus pusong pagbati sa iyong kampeonato (Again, my heartfelt congratulations for your championship), Hidilyn,” Go added.

Her fellow Tokyo Olympics medalists Nesthy Alcayde Petecio and Eumir Felix Marcia also sent their congratulatory greetings.

Praise from Olympian Petercio

Olympic silver medalist Petecio, on her Facebook, shared her photos with Diaz, and captioned it: “Congratulations champ! Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo Oly and team HD! Thank you, as always!”

Marcial, for his part, shared September 18, 2014 photos of her and Diaz wearing their Philippine Air Force camouflage uniforms and wrote: “Olympic Champion at ngayon World Champion. Naalala ko yung panahon na kinukuwento mo palang ang lahat ng achievements mo ngayon ate, ang sinabi mo sakin hanggang kaya at malakas pa hindi ka hihinto abutin mga pangarap mo. Ikaw ang isa sa mga inspirasyon ko ate. Isa kang bayani samin lahat mabuhay ka ate Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo Oly. Congratulations Ate (Olympic Champion and now World Champion. I remembered the time when you were talking about all your achievements now, sister and you told mo that as long as you can and still have the strength, you won’t stop achieving your dreams.

You are one of my inspirations, sister. You are a hero to all of us, long live sister Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo Oly. Congratulations, sister).” Marcial also hails from Zamboanga City just like Diaz.