Another pride of Mindanao Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz handed the Philippines its first medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games early morning on Monday, Manila time. The silver Medalist is competing in her third straight Olympics of women’s 53-kg division and Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching wins the gold medalist of this division.
Hidilyn Diaz is the first Olympic Medalist from Mindanao and first Filipina to earn an Olympic Medal.
In the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, Diaz competed in the 58-kg category.
Diaz, who hails from Zamboanga City, has a career best of 224 kilograms. She qualified for the Rio Games after winning bronze in the International Weightlifting Federation World Championship in Houston, Texas.
While the pride of Cagayan de Oro Ian Lariba of table tennis, who carried the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony, was the first to fall after losing in straight sets.