Hidilyn Diaz, the trailblazing Filipina weightlifter, who clinched the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal, on Wednesday night bid goodbye to her Paris Olympics bid.
Diaz, who hails from Zamboanga, saw her impressive streak of Olympic appearances come to an end after being outshone by compatriot Elreen Ando in the women’s 59kg category of the IWF World Cup held in Phuket, Thailand.
Emerging as one of the rising stars in Philippine weightlifting, Ando lifted a total of 228 kgs, edging out Diaz, who managed only 222 kgs, and dashing her hopes for a coveted spot in the Paris Olympics.
Ando’s remarkable performance secured her 7th place in a fiercely competitive division that featured three gold medalists and the world-record holder Luo Shifang of China vying for glory.
Maude Charron, the Canadian champion who bagged the gold in the 64kg category in Tokyo 2021, and Kuo Hsing-Chun from Chinese Taipei, the victor in the 59kg category in Tokyo, remained strong contenders. Unfortunately, Diaz, who transitioned to a higher weight class from 55kg in Tokyo, failed to qualify.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Diaz was reportedly in tears after her performance at the World Cup, as described by the International Weightlifting Federation on its official website.
“I love this sport, I don’t want to stop,” Diaz said.
“But now, I need to take a step back, reflect, and prioritize aspects of my life. Today wasn’t my day, and Paris wasn’t meant to be,” she continued, as quoted by the IWF. “However, overall, I’m grateful. I’ve dedicated myself to this sport, and it has rewarded me in countless ways.”
Diaz, who made her Olympic debut in the 2008 Beijing edition, rose to prominence in the 2016 Rio Olympics where she secured the silver medal. She reached the pinnacle of her career with a historic gold medal win in Tokyo 2021.
Despite this setback, Diaz has not officially retired from the sport, but it’s undoubtedly a farewell to her Paris aspirations.
While Ando’s qualification for Paris awaits confirmation from the International Weightlifting Federation, the Philippine Olympic Committee has already congratulated Ando for potentially securing a slot.
It’s worth noting that only one athlete per nation is permitted to compete in each of the categories of the weightlifting competition at the Olympics.