Champion returns home

Newly minted champion Hidilyn Diaz is set to return home from Japan after her historic performance in the women’s 55kg weightlifting that saw her clinch the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal.

Diaz will arrive in the country on Wednesday, July 28, as athletes who have already finished their events are required to leave Japan within 48 hours in accordance with the Tokyo Games’ strict protocols.

Awaiting Diaz in the country are more than P50 million worth of rewards from the government and private companies, including a house and lot, a condominium unit, lifetime of free flights, and lifetime of free gasoline.

She is also set to become the first Filipino athlete to receive the gold Medal of Valor from the Philippine Sports Commission, given only to a gold medalist in the Olympics or Paralympics.

(READ: Hidilyn Diaz to return home with Philippines’ first Olympic gold)

Ando ends Olympics at 7th

Weightlifter Elreen Ando concluded her first Olympic campaign at seventh place in the women’s 64 kg class, posting a better score than three other participants in the final.

Ando cleared 100kg on the snatch and 122kg on the clean and jerk.

(READ: Elreen Ando finishes 7th in Olympic weightlifting debut)

Rule stays alive

Swimmer Remedy Rule punched her semifinals ticket to the women’s 200m butterfly after landing at 15th overall with a time of 2:12.33.

Despite ending her heat at last place, Rule was able to qualify as she finished inside the top 16.

Gebbie sets new PH record

Swimmer Luke Gebbie failed to advance to the semifinals of the men’s 100 freestyle, but still managed to set a new Philippine record despite his elimination.

Gebbie clocked in 49.64 seconds, resetting his previous national record of 49.94 seconds he set in the 2019 FINA World Championships.

Needing a top 16 finish to qualify for the semifinals, he finished 36th overall out of 70 competitors.

(READ: Luke Gebbie resets PH record, Remedy Rule makes semis in Tokyo Olympics swimming)

Watanabe bows out

Judoka Kiyomi Watanabe crashed out of the Tokyo Olympics as she suffered a swift ippon loss to Cristina Cabana Perez of Spain in their women’s -63kg round of 32 match.

Cabana Perez took only 38 seconds to end the match as she scored an ippon against a stunned Watanabe.

(READ: Kiyomi Watanabe crashes out of Tokyo Olympics judo)

Preview

Riding on the momentum of Hidilyn Diaz’s historic Olympic gold medal win, the Philippines’ Tokyo Games campaign continues with four athletes competing on Tuesday, July 27.

Judoka Kiyomi Watanabe will make her Olympic debut against Cristina Cabana Perez of Spain in their women’s -63kg round of 32 clash at 10 am.

Like Watanabe, swimmer Luke Gebbie will see action in the Olympics for the first time as he takes the pool for the men’s 100m freestyle heats at 6:12 pm, needing a top 16 finish to advance to the semifinals.

After failing to reach the semifinals of the women’s 100m butterfly, swimmer Remedy Rule will try her luck in the women’s 200m butterfly at 6:33 pm.

Ending the day for the Philippine contingent is weightlifter Elreen Ando, who will try to follow in Diaz’s footsteps as she vies for a medal in the women’s 64kg division.

(READ: Tokyo Olympics: Meet Team Philippines)

– Rappler.com