MANILA, Philippines – On her third Olympics trip, she finally did it.
Hidilyn Diaz made history for the Philippines, ending the country's 20-year Olympic medal drought by securing a silver medal in the women's 53kg weightlifting division of the 2016 Summer Games on Sunday, August 7 (Monday morning, August 8 in Manila) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The 25-year-old Diaz, a native of Zamboanga City, who was a bronze medalist in the 2015 World Weightlifting Championships, recorded a total weight of 200.
In the snatch event, Diaz failed to lift two of her 3 attempts and tallied just 88kg for 6th place in a tough field led by China and Chinese Taipei.
But Diaz, looking very comfortable and optimistic on the platform, recovered in the clean and jerk lift, successfully lifting 111kg in the first attempt and then snagging the medal with a 112kg lift in her second attempt.
She tried to clear 117kg in her third attempt but was unable to lift it. Her total score is 200, just good enough for second place.
Fellow weightlifter Nestor Colonia will be competing by 6am Manila time in the men's 56kg. – Jane Bracher of Rappler.com
