During the 2016 Summer Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 25-year-old weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made history as the first female Olympic medalist from the Philippines after she won the silver medal during the women’s 58-kg category.
Her achievement inspired the nation and she was praised by her fellow countrymen all over the world.
Diaz returned to the Philippines a hero and she was awarded the Congressional Medal of Distinction by the House of Representatives. In addition, lawmakers pitched in to giver her a cash reward of P1.5 million.
ABS-CBN News reports that she also received P5 million from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and P2.5 million from President Rodrigo Duterte, as a prize for lifting the Filipino spirit.
However, the blessings don’t stop there. Early this December, Diaz and her family will finally get to move in their brand new home at Deca Homes 8990 in Clark, Pampanga, as reported by PTV.
The house and lot was a reward by the company for the Filipina athlete. She has officially received the keys to her new home.
Not only that, a street in the subdivision she will now be living in will officially bear her name so her feat will be etched in posterity for years to come.
And while she and her family have now reaped the material rewards of her achievement, the Olympic win by Diaz has also paved the way for the realization of a weightlifting gym in Zamboanga City, which the athlete had long dreamed for her hometown.
“With the gym, I encourage kids to get into weightlifting. It’s not that big. But if I get some money I’ll put up a bigger gym,” Diaz told Rappler before she left for the Olympics earlier this year.
Indeed, her silver Olympic medal win is the gift that keeps on giving.
