The Philippines Has Won It's First Silver Medal In 20 Years!

Our very own Hidilyn Diaz has made Philippine history after ending the country's 20-year Olympic medal drought. Diaz won a silver medal in the women's 53-kg weightlifting division of the 2016 Summer Games on Sunday, August 7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Hidilyn, hails from Zamboanga City, she became the first female athlete to win an Olympic medal for the Philippines. She was also the first Filipino female to medal in weightlifting. This is also the Philippines first medal not to come from boxing.

Diaz failed her first two attempts and tallied just 88 kg for 6th place in a tough field led by China and Chinese Taipei.

But Diaz, not giving up, recovered and successfully lifted 111 kg in the first attempt and then a 112 kg lift in her second attempt.

Diaz’s road to the Olympics began in 2014, after a rough year of dealing with losing her coach.

She picked herself up and concentrated on a new diet, strength and conditioning system.

Congratulations Hidilyn Diaz! You made your country proud.