Palace leads praise for Olympic medalist Hidilyn Diaz

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Malacañang on Monday, August 8, led in congratulating weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for her silver medal victory at the 2016 Olympics – the Philippines’ first Olympic medal finish in two decades.

Diaz ended the country’s long wait for an Olympic medal with a silver in the women’s 53-kg weightlifting division Sunday, August 7, in the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro (early Monday in Manila).

“The Philippines and the President [are] honored and proud of Hidilyn Diaz’s silver medal win at the Rio Olympics,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“We extend our sincerest congratulations and celebrate the end of the medal drought. Truly change has come,” Abella added.

“On behalf of a proud nation, we congratulate Hidilyn Diaz for winning the Philippines’ first medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a separate statement.

Diaz’s “inspiring” story, which began in her native Zamboanga City where she learned the sport, “is the story of Filipinos,” Andanar continued. “Her road to Rio is a journey of grit, patience, and determination which ended a 20-year-long medal drought for the Philippines.”

Diaz is also an “inspiration to every Filipino,” Vice President Leni Robredo said in a message.

“Pinahanga mo kami sa iyong husay, pagsisikap at determinasyon sa gitna ng iyong mga pinagdaanang pagsubok,” Robredo said.

“You serve as an inspiration to every Filipino and a reminder that no challenge is too heavy for a Filipina woman to overcome,” she added.

The weightlifter, 25, is the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal, as well as the country’s first for weightlifting. She is also the first Filipino Olympic medalist from Mindanao. – KD Suarez / Rappler.com