Here is everything you need to know about women’s 55kg category Weightlifting, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines

Hidilyn Diaz Facts

Birthplace	Zamboanga City, Philippines
Father’s name	Eduardo Diaz Sr.
Mother’s name	Emelita Diaz
Star sign	Pisces
College	De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde
Net worth (2021)	$1 million
Salary (2021)	N/A
Age	30
Date of birth	February 20, 1991
Profession	Professional Weightlifter and Airwoman
Nationality	Filipino
Achievements	2020 Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist, 2016 Rio Olympics Silver Medalist
Boyfriend	Julius Naranjo
Children	None

Taking part in her fourth Olympics, Hidilyn Diaz, defied all odds to win the Gold medal in the women’s 55kg category Weightlifting. This was also the country’s first-ever Olympic Gold Medal.

The Filipino who had been stranded in Malaysia since early 2020, due to the Coronavirus restrictions, trained with whatever is available despite the country imposing stringent lockdown measures.

Hidilyn Diaz Net Worth

Hidilyn Diaz is believed to have a net worth of around $1 million in 2021, thanks to her incredibly long and successful weightlifting career. Besides this, she is also an airwoman.

Now that she has struck Gold at Tokyo 2020, her net worth is surely set to shoot up, going by the numerous awards and recognition she will be getting from countless sources.

Hidilyn Diaz Career

Hidilyn Diaz, began her professional weightlifting career when she was just a teenager. The Filipino got a wildcard entry to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first-ever female weightlifter from Phillippines.

Diaz took part in the 58kg women’s category and finished 11th out of 12 weightlifters.

The Filipino once again qualified for the Olympics, four years later, in London. This time she broke her own personal record set at the 2008 games. Despite clearing the snatch successfully she was unsuccessful in her three clean & jerk attempts, and ended up with a DNF.

Diaz, then decided to drop weight, and take part in a different category. Since this paid dividends at the Southeast Asian Weightlifting Championship in Bangkok prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

She qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics – her third Olympics. This time she took part in the 53kg category, determined than ever to clinch a medal. She did in style by winning a silver medal at Rio 2016.

At the World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Thailand (2019), Diaz won the Bronze medal.

Following a massive struggle in exile in Malaysia, after being stranded (since March 2020) due to the Coronavirus restrictions, she made use of whatever was available, to train for the Tokyo Olympics. Diaz had to keep relocating to different places (within Malaysia) wherever she found shelter.

On the 26th of July, 2021, she did her country proud by becoming the first-ever Gold medalist from the Philippines after placing 1st in the women’s 55kg weightlifting.

Diaz was lauded by a legion of celebrities, and was awarded approximately $660,000 by the Philippines government.

Besides her weightlifting career, Diaz is an airwoman too. She became a part of the Philippine Air Force in the year 2013. She is currently a sergeant, an honorary promotion she got after her victory at the 2018 Asian Games.

Hidilyn Diaz Family, Personal Life and Endorsements

Hidilyn Diaz was born to parents Eduardo Diaz Sr. and Emelita Diaz. Her father was a tricycle driver, farmer and fisherman. It was her cousin, Allen Jayfrus Diaz, who got her into weightlifting.

Diaz, is in a relationship with former weightlifter Julius Naranjo. Naranjo represented Guam in competitions in is currently a professional weightlifting coach.

Hidilyn Diaz endorses a nutrition brand named USANA Philippines.

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