| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitor for Philippines | ||
| Women’s weightlifting | ||
| Southeast Asian Games | ||
| Bronze | 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima | 53 kg |
Hidilyn Diaz [1](born February 20, 1991) is an 18 year-old weightlifter from Zamboanga City, Philippines. She represented the country in the 2008 Summer Olympics and is also the youngest in the 58 kg. category.[2] Diaz was a bronze medalist in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand and achieved 10th place at the 2006 Asian Games in the 53-kilogram class. She is a student of Universidad de Zamboanga. Recently Diaz won two golds and 1 silver in the Asian Youth/ Junior Weightlifting Championship set in Jeonju, South Korea.[3]
Hidilyn Diaz was selected as a wild card entry to the Summer Olympics by the Philippine Weightlifting Association in early 2008.[4] She is the first female weightlifter to compete for the Philippines in the Olympics, and the second weightlifter overall (the first being her coach, Ramon Solis).[5] Competing in the women's 58 kg class, 17 year-old Diaz lifted 85 kg in the snatch and 107 kg in the clean and jerk for a 192 kg total, breaking the Philippine record that she herself set at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games.[6] Though she placed second to last in a field of 12 weightlifters, her performance was praised and considered promising for her age. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez said "She's here to gain valuable experience", and predicted that she would be a strong contender at future games.[7] She is set to undergo an extensive training program to prepare her for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[8]