Born: 1991
Biography:
Hidilyn Francisco Diaz-Naranjo OLY is a renowned Filipina weightlifter and airwoman, known for her exceptional achievements in the world of sports. Born on February 20, 1991, Diaz made history by becoming the first Filipino to ever win an Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. Her remarkable journey, dedication, and determination have inspired countless individuals, and her impact on women’s history in the Philippines is indisputable.
Diaz’s interest in weightlifting began at a young age. In her early years as a weightlifter, she won a bronze medal at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. She also achieved an impressive 10th place finish at the 2006 Asian Games, competing in the 53-kilogram class. While representing the Universidad de Zamboanga, Diaz achieved further success by winning two gold medals and one silver in the Asian Youth/Junior Weightlifting Championship held in Jeonju, South Korea.
Diaz’s first taste of Olympic competition came in the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she made her mark as the youngest competitor in the women’s 58-kilogram category. Her participation in the Olympics fueled her determination to excel in her chosen sport.
In the 2016 Summer Olympics, Diaz etched her name in history by winning the silver medal in the women’s 53-kilogram weight division. Her achievement made her the first Filipino to win an Olympic medal in a non-boxing event since 1936, breaking the Philippines’ 20-year Olympic medal drought.
However, it was at the 2020 Summer Olympics that Diaz reached the pinnacle of her career. Competing in the women’s 55-kilogram category for weightlifting, she secured the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. Diaz’s performance in the competition was nothing short of extraordinary, setting two Olympic records in weightlifting. She made an Olympic record in the clean and jerk at 127 kilograms and surpassed the previous record in the total by lifting a remarkable 224 kilograms.
Apart from her accomplishments in weightlifting, Diaz also serves as an inspiration to many for her relentless pursuit of education. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in computer science at the Universidad de Zamboanga but discontinued her studies as she found it unsuitable and distracting to her training. After her success at the 2016 Olympics, Diaz decided to continue her tertiary education and intended to pursue a degree related to sports in Manila. She later received a scholarship to study business management at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Awards:
– Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting (2020 Summer Olympics)
– Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting (2016 Summer Olympics)
– Bronze medalist at the Southeast Asian Games (2007)