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Nicolas Atkin

Follow our live coverage of day four of the Tokyo Olympics here
The plaudits and adulation have been coming thick and fast for Hidilyn Diaz.
The 30-year-old Filipino weightlifter won her country’s first Olympic gold medal in its 97-year history of competing at the Games on Monday night, setting an Olympic record in the 55kg category.
Now the Philippines’ most famous athlete has given her some warm words on social media.

Thank you, Hidilyn Diaz, for the first-ever Olympic Gold for the Philippines! We are so proud of you! pic.twitter.com/JhRrKlPrm6
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) July 26, 2021

“Thank you, Hidilyn Diaz, for the first-ever Olympic Gold for the Philippines! We are so proud of you!” wrote Manny Pacquiao, the former eight-division world boxing champion.
The 42-year-old Pacquiao, who is in Los Angeles training for his August 21 bout against American Errol Spence, also posted a picture praising Diaz for her “hard work and perseverance”.


Diaz spent 18 months training in self-exile in Malaysia before the Games, because of Covid-19 restrictions in the Philippines, and at one point event took to Instagram to beg for financial support so she could continue to chase her Olympic dream.
“We celebrate you and your success,” Pacuiao added.
Another Filipino boxer, the 25-year-old Eumir Marcial – who is competing at the Tokyo Olympics – also paid tribute to Diaz on social media.

“Congratulations Ate Hidilyn Diaz. Speechless. I am so happy today. Long live Ate,” he wrote on Instagram, with an emoji of the Philippines national flag.
Filipino basketball sensation Kai Sotto also weighed in. “This right here!” he said, retweeting a post from the official Tokyo 2020 account celebrating Diaz’s achievement. “Congrats Hidilyn.”
Four-time Olympian Diaz – who also won silver at the Rio 2016 Games – earned 33 million pesos (US$660,000) in cash prizes from the government and several businessmen, and also a house and lot, for her historic triumph on Monday.


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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo Olympics: Manny Pacquiao ‘so proud’ of Hidilyn Diaz for winning Philippines’ first gold medal

Gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz, of the Philippines, celebrates her Tokyo 2020 Olympics triumph. Photo: Reuters

Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz (C) reacts after placing first in the women's 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

Tokyo 2020: Hidilyn Diaz is Philippines’ first Olympic gold medallist after 55kg weightlifting triumph

Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz reacts while competing in the women’s 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum. Photo: AFP

Gold medallist Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz stand on the podium for the victory ceremony of the women's 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

epa09367724 Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines reacts in the Women's 55kg Snatch during the Weightlifting events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan, 26 July 2021. EPA-EFE/JEON HEON-KYUN

Cheung Ka-long, the unassuming fencing hero Hong Kong never knew about

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games men’s individual foil gold medallist Cheung Ka-long of Hong Kong at the medal and podium ceremony at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba City, Japan. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong's Cheung Ka Long celebrates after winning against Russia's Kirill Borodachev in the men’s individual foil quarter-final bout during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP)

epa09367682 Cheung Ka Long Hong Kongcelebrates after his victory over Daniele Garozzo Italy in the Men's foil Individual Golden medal bout during the Fencing events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe convention centre in Chiba, Japan, 26 July 2021. EPA-EFE/KIYOSHI OTA

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Flag bearers Cheung Ka Long of Hong Kong and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong lead their contingent during the athletes parade at the opening ceremony REUTERS/Mike Blake

Cheung and his coach Greg Koenig

Edgar Cheung Ka-long, Men's Foil player, of 2016 Rio Olympic Games Hong Kong representatives at Hong Kong Sports Institute in Fo Tan. 08JUL16 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

Hong Kong foil team in Paris World Cup. Fr left: Ryan Choi Chun-yin, Cheung Ka-long, Lawrence Ng Lok-wang and Cheung Siu-lun

Tokyo Olympics: USA beats China in women’s volleyball to leave reigning champions winless

China’s Zhu Ting (left) spikes during the women's volleyball preliminary round match between China and the United States at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: Xinhua

Tokyo Olympics: cyclist Sarah Lee inspired by Cheung Ka-long’s gold as she aims for more Hong Kong glory in sprint and keirin

Sarah Lee leaves for Tokyo confident of winning medals in the keirin and sprint. The background shows a poster of Hong Kong athletes at the airport. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Head coach Shen Jinkang and two of his charges - Jessica Lee Hoi-yan and Sarah Lee before departure for the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

A big cycling contingent to leave for Tokyo for Olympic glory. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Hurdler Chan Chung-wang (centre) and HKAAA chairman Kwan Kee (left) also leave for the Tokyo Games. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Tokyo Olympics: Cheung Ka-long makes history for Hong Kong with fencing gold

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long (left) competing with Daniele Garozzo of Italy in the men’s individual foil gold medal bout at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: Xinhua

Ka Long Cheung of Hong Kong celebrates defeating Daniele Garozzo of Italy in the men's individual final Foil competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

TOPSHOT - Gold medallist Hong Kong's Cheung Ka Long looks the medal as he celebrates on podium during the medal ceremony for the men’s individual foil during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

epa09367830 Cheung Ka Long (R) of Hong Kong celebrates with his team after his victory over Daniele Garozzo Italy in the Men's foil Individual Golden medal bout during the Fencing events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe convention centre in Chiba, Japan, 26 July 2021. EPA-EFE/KIYOSHI OTA

Cheung Ka-long's gold medal

Sport


The boxing Senator pays tribute to Filipino weightlifter after triumph in 55kg event
Sporting stars weigh in to congratulate Diaz after ending Philippines’ 97-year wait for an Olympic champion



Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao pays tribute to weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz after her historic Tokyo 2020 triumph in the 55kg event.


Manny Pacquiao