The City government lauds the winning of Olympian Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz for winning the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines for weightlifting in the women's 55kg category yesterday in Tokyo, Japan.

Diaz lifted 97kg for snatch and 127kg clean and jerk total of 224kg to win the gold besting several countries.

Team Hidilyn Diaz is composed of Coach Kaiwen Gao, Coach Julius Naranjo, Dr. Karen Trinidad and Jeaneth Aro.

The team look over the technic and skills training, the strength and conditioning training, the mental skills training and weight cut recovery nutrition strategies.

The Philippines had its first medal in the Olympics in 1992 in boxing where the athlete who participated was Mansueto Velasco, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Silver brought home by Diaz and this time, Gold.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar said, "Zamboanga's pride: Our homegrown Olympian Hidilyn Diaz makes history again as the Philippines first Olympic Gold medalist at the weightlifting women's 55kg event at Tokyo Olympics 2020! Enhorabuena! We are proud of you, Hidilyn!."

Cecil Atilano, City Sports Officer said, Diaz will receive ₱ 2.5 million incentive coming from the city.

"Nagbunga ang hirap, pagod, sakripisyo, determination ni Hidilyn and pinaka asam-asam na gintong medalya." Atilano said.

She added, "Isang napakagandang regalo para sa ating bayan sa kabila ng covid 19 pandemic napasaya niya tayong lahat."

She also made history for sports and for the Philippines which was only a dream before.

Diaz is a veteran Olympian, she already competed during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, and during the 2016 Rio de Jeneiro Olympics she bagged the silver medal for the Philippines and now, the gold medal.

The lady weightlifter is a resident of Barangay Mampang where she has a sister and four  brothers. She is the fifth child of Eduardo and Emelita Diaz where Emelita is a housewife while the head of the family, Eduardo is a tricycle driver.

She studied her Elementary at Mampang Elementary School, graduated high school at Universidad de Zamboanga Technical High School, and studied two years Computer Science at Universidad de Zamboanga. Now Diaz is also a member of the Philippine Air Force.

(R.G Antonet Go, Photo courtesy of City Government of Zamboanga Facebook Page)