Sacrifice, exile in Malaysia: How Filipina Hidilyn Diaz made Olympic history


The daughter of a tricycle driver in a poor village near Zamboanga, Diaz has not seen her family since December 2019. - Reuters

TOKYO (AFP): Triumphant weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz will now forget the years of exile, sacrifice, training and nutrition that took her to the Philippines' first Olympic gold by tucking into her favourite sweet passions, cheesecake and bubble tea.

"Yes I will eat a lot tonight," she smiled as she told AFP of her plans after her final massive 127kg lift eclipsed China's world record holder Liao Qiuyun in the women's 55kg class and gave her country a first gold after 97 years of Olympic competition.

The Star Christmas Special Promo: Save 35% OFF Yearly. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Philippines , Hidilyn Diaz , Olympics

Next In Aseanplus News

Thailand says Cambodia must announce ceasefire 'first' to stop fighting
Trump-Kim summit more likely in 2026, with Seoul still left in cold: Report
Indonesian employers group says proposed minimum wage rise is too high
Quirky stationery, red ginseng: What tourists in South Korea are buying these days
PM2.5 levels rise in Bangkok, health warning issued
Singapore police step up patrols in certain areas following Sydney’s Bondi Beach shooting
Alleged Bondi Beach gunman to be charged within hours: Albanese
Inside the US$2bil flood mitigation scandal that paralysed the Philippines
Famous China painter, 87, welcomes son with wife, 37, amid US$280mil theft rumour
Man runs amok, kills grandmother, injures great-grandmother

Others Also Read