Philippines, 17 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


HIDILYN DIAZ MAKES HISTORY IN RIO


PhilBoxing.com




On her third try in the world's biggest stage, not only did Hidilyn Diaz fulfilled her lifelong dream, she also achieved her nation's twenty-year old dream.

The drought is over for the Philippines. The country has earned a silver medal in the ongoing Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The silver medal, the country's first medal since the 1996 Summer Olympics was won by 25 year old Hidilyn Diaz of Zamboanga City, Philippines in the Women's - 53 kg Weightlifting competition Sunday afternoon (Monday morning in the Philippines) in Brazil.

Diaz was a bemedaled weightlifter in various world competitions. Her recent accomplishments include a bronze medal (53 kg) in the International Weightlifting Federation's World Championships held in Houston, Texas in 2015 and another bronze in the recently concluded Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last April.

This is Diaz's third Olympic bid, she was a young teenager at 17 years of age in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China and was the country's flag-bearer during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

A previous campaigner in the 58 kilogram division in her last two Olympic stints, Diaz dropped down to the 53 kilogram division in the Rio Games. It was a decision that gave her and her country a place amongst the world's best in the grandest and biggest sports competition in the world.

The Philippines had its last taste of an Olympic medal twenty years ago in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. The popular Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco Jr. won the silver medal in the Men's Light Flyweight (48 kilogram) division in boxing.

Diaz is one of seven children of a tricycle driver and fell in love with the sport while growing in her hometown of Zamboanga City in Mindanao. She finished second to Chinese-Taipei's Shu-Ching Hsu (gold) and above South Korea's Yoon Jin-hee (bronze).

Her triumph today also set another history in the annals of Philippine sports - Hinalyn Diaz, a diminutive 5 footer is the FIRST FILIPINA to ever win an Olympic medal. The eight great athletes before her who brought the country Olympic pride and honor were all males. She is also the first from her sport (and the first athlete from Mindanao) to earn a prestigious Olympic win for the Philippines.

You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and @Freemazon910 on Twitter.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS PRESENTS “COUNTDOWN TO THRILLA IN MANILA” AND “THRILLA IN MANILA 50”
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai Featherweight World Title Showdown Set for Nov. 15 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • Irish welterweight contender Paddy Donovan Positioned for another World title shot
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • DAY ONE: TEAM ASIA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT WHITEWASH AS AJ ‘STARBOY’ MANAS SHINES
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • CONNOR MITCHELL SIGNS FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AND DREAMS OF SURPASSING HIS LEGENDARY FATHER
    , Fri, 17 Oct 2025
  • CONWAY-LIDDARD YORK HALL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • PR Run - Break Your Record on Oct. 19
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART I)
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • BOXING HALL OF FAME RELEASES FALL 2025 LETTER OF APPEAL SEEKING FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
    , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • Mendoza bags bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 20: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III ON OCTOBER 1, 1975 AT THE ARANETA COLISEUM
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: History of Boxing in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • YORK HALL PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS CONWAY AND LIDDARD GET SET FOR HUGE DOMESTIC CLASH
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • Unbeaten Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes Set for Return on October 18 Against Derlyn Hernandez-Geraldo in Long Beach
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • JOEL “LETHAL” LEWIS RETURNS NOV 28TH THUNDERDOME 52 – METRO CITY PERTH
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • Shane Mosley Sr. Blasts Oscar De La Hoya of Blocking Son’s Title Shot, Calls for Trilogy Fight on Drew & Pris Uncensored podcast
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • MASOUD vs McGRAIL HEADLINES BLOCKBUSTER MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI CARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • WFM Mendoza seizes lead in 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • YOENLI HERNANDEZ KNOCKS OUT RAMON DELACRUZ SENA IN FIRST ROUND OF MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 8
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • BEN WHITTAKER TITLE SHOT CONFIRMED WITH PRESS CONFERENCE THIS FRIDAY
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST AMATEUR TALENT IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • SHANNON RYAN: I'M READY TO BRING 'KAOS' TO YORK HALL THIS WEEK
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • Nikita Tszyu Health Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 13 OCTOBER 2025: Ennis Wipes Out Lima; Vianello Defeats Barriere; Makhmudov Outpoits Allen
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 14 Oct 2025
  • Omar Juarez Set for Homecoming Clash Against Omar Rosario on October 18 i
    , Tue, 14 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.