By Erma Edera
Mary Flor Diaz bagged bronze in the first event of the 30th Southeast Games weightlifting (women’s 45 kg) at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Sunday.
Mary Flor Diaz (45KG0, cousin of Hidlyn Diaz during the women’s weightlifting competition at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Sunday. (Jansen Romero)
Diaz, 20, cousin of 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, made a total lift of 159 kilograms, 70 in snatch and 89 in clean and jerk.
Vuong Thi Huyen of Vietnam took the gold with a total lift of 172 kilograms, 77 kgs in snatch and 95 kg in clean and jerk.
Indonesia’s Setiawati Lisa came in second with a total lift of 169 kilograms, 73 in snatch, 96 in clean and jerk.
According to Diaz, it took her three months to prepare for the event. She also bared that two months before the SEA games, her father suffered a mild stroke.
“Sobrang laking panalo ito sa akin kasi first time ko e at saka hindi ko ine-expect. Lahat possible kapag may tiwala ka sa sarili mo. Hindi ko na naisip yung bigat, naisip ko na lang kung paano ko bubuhatin,” she said after the awarding ceremony.
“Sa akin kasi gusto ko lang i-enjoy yung laro, at saka sinacrifice ko yung buhok ko para makuha ko lang yung timbang ko. Over pa ako ng .5 kasi; lahat ng pagod, worth it,” she added.
The 20-year-old Pinay weightlifter said that she dedicates her first win in the SEA games for the country.
Diaz also revealed that her cousin, Hidilyn motivated her to join the competition.
“Siya po yung nagsilbing inspiration sakin kasi ang lakas nya eh, Olympian, siya talaga nagmotivate sa akin,” she said.
The native Zamboanga also won two bronze medals in the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championship in China last April.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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