There were a lot of emotions when Hidilyn Diaz stood up on the podium to receive her Olympic gold medal — the first ever for the Philippines. The 30-year-old maintained her salute as the country’s national anthem was playing, while tears flowed down her masked face. She had not only beaten her personal record by managing to raise and sustain a huge 279.9 pounds above her head, she’d also beaten the world record in her 55kg (or 121 pounds) weightlifting category. The ceremony that took place in Tokyo on Monday was made even more special when the Olympian raised her medal to show the crowd. However, it wasn’t the glittering gold medal that she was showing off, but Our Lady’s Miraculous Medal that she also had around her neck.
Hidilyn said later “I did not expect to lift it yesterday. I guess that was God and all the people who prayed for me yesterday. I’m thankful to those who prayed and did the novena.” Diaz’s medal is obviously very precious to her, along with the prayers of all those who’ve supported her along her route to victory. She was proud of the gold medal, the first ever for the Philippines but even more proud of the Miraculous Medal she was proud to show off. Another Filipina, Nesthy Petecio, almost won a second gold in boxing today, but lost in the final, getting the silver medal.
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