Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines (Reuters photo)
Jul 29 2021
Philippine Catholic bishops congratulated the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, not only for her victory but for her show of faith and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“We admire her devotion to the Blessed Mother as she carried in her victory her great faith in God,” said Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the country’s bishops’ conference.
The prelate said he noticed in one of the photos of the victorious athlete holding her gold medal a “Miraculous Medal of Our Lady” hanging on her chest.
“Hidilyn is a true weightlifter who draws her strength from her love for the country and her deep Catholic faith,” said the archbishop.
Diaz won the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines in the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting event. She also made an Olympic record after lifting a combined weight of 224 kilograms.
After completing her final lift in a very close competition on Monday, July 26, Diaz held her hands to her face and burst into tears and clutched at the medallion around her neck.
“Thank you, Lord, thank you Lord,” she cried repeatedly after the winning lift.
Read the full news in LiCAS.news.
