2020 Olympics: Philippines haul four medals including one Gold

Philipines

Olympics awaken national pride

Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
As the Philippines ended its historic quest for medals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, August 7, 2021, its lone gold, two silver and one bronze medal haul changed the lives of the athletes who won them and had awaken national pride in such a time as this.
For Sunday’s closing ceremonies, silver medalist Nesthy Petecio will carry the flag for Team Philippines, said Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino.
Petecio brought honor to the country by winning the silver medal in the women’s featherweight division, together with Carlo Paalam, who also won the silver medal in the men’s flyweight division.
Petecio and Paalam will be joined by bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and teammate Irish Magno.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who made history as the first Filipino to win the gold medal, had gone home ahead of the closing ceremonies.
Diaz’s story went viral when she showed a video of her training using water jugs when the pandemic hit last year. Without access to a gym and training equipment, she was forced to make use of what was available.
In 2019, Diaz struggled to get financial support from the government and turned to her Instagram to ask for private sector support for her bid in the 2020 Olympics.
The Philippine Sports Commission had belied Diaz’s claims and said she had one of the highest allowances among Filipino athletes. Diaz said it just wasn’t enough.
She was also part of some citizens who were red-tagged by the Duterte administration, making her family worry for her safety.
But from a life full of struggles, Diaz is now seeing brighter days as she and the three other medalists are set to receive financial incentives and gifts-like houses, vehicles and freebies-both from government and the private sector.

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