Philippines Olympics gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz misses out on Paris spot, vows to keep lifting
- Country’s first and only Olympic champion fails to qualify for summer Games after moving up a division
- Diaz loses in IWF World Cup 59kg class in Thailand competition to compatriot Elreen Ando
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Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins Philippines’ first Olympic gold, ending its near 100-year wait
Hidilyn Diaz, the first and only Olympic gold medallist from the Philippines, vowed to continue in weightlifting just hours after failing to qualify for a fifth consecutive Games.
Diaz, 33, was beaten in the IWF World Cup 59kg class in Thailand late on Wednesday by 25-year-old compatriot Elreen Ando, who secured a Paris weightlifting berth for the Philippines after finishing seventh with a total of 228kg.
Only one athlete per country can qualify in any weight division and Diaz, who won gold at Tokyo in the now-scrapped 55kg division, finished 11th on 222kg after failing with her final two clean-and-jerk attempts to match Ando’s total.
Diaz has lifted at every Olympics since Beijing in 2008 but will be 37 when the Los Angeles Games take place in 2028.
“I will still lift, but I’m not sure for the next Olympics,” Diaz said. “Right now, I have to enjoy the moment. I will pursue what I have started, training and serving our athletes in the future.”
Diaz has struggled since stepping up to the heavier 59kg class where she faces naturally bigger athletes – Ando competed in the 64kg class in Tokyo.