Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz wins $660,000 and a house

Philippines weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has been rewarded for winning her country's first-ever Olympic Games gold medal with a huge cash reward and a new house.

Diaz won the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting competition in Tokyo on Monday, setting an Olympic record 127 kilograms in the clean and jerk event.

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Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins first ever Olympic gold for Philippines

“History. Made,” the Olympics said on its Twitter account after 30-year-old Diaz

"It's unbelievable, it's a dream come true," Diaz, a silver medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics, told AFP. "I want to say to the young generation in the Philippines, 'You can have this dream of gold too.':

Diaz's victory has earned her 33 million pesos ($660,000) in cash prizes from the government and several businessmen and a house and lot.

The Philippine Sports Commission guarantees a 10 million-peso incentive for every Olympic gold.

Diaz's medal was one of only 11 the Philippines has won since the country first took part in the Olympics in 1924.

The country's presidential representative, Harry Roque, said that Diaz has brought pride and glory to the Philippines.

"Congratulations, Hidilyn. The entire Filipino nation is proud of you," he said.

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Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines celebrates after winning gold in the women's 55kg weightlifting event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan.

Updated: July 27th 2021, 4:53 AM