- Hidilyn Diaz is the first Filipino ever to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
- Diaz won the women's weightlifting 55 kg in Tokyo, and she's now getting duly rewarded.
- She's to receive $660,000 and two houses from the government and businesspeople, Bloomberg reports.
Hidilyn Diaz, the Filipino weightlifter who won her country's first-ever gold medal, is to receive $660,000 and two houses as prizes for her achievement.
Diaz won the women's weightlifting 55 kg at the
Ahead of the games, the 30-year-old had spent seven months away from her family after being stuck in Malaysia because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Forced to build her own gym, she made use of everyday objects to train, including a barbell made of two water bottles hanging from a bamboo pole.
But following her Tokyo triumph, Diaz is likely to be living a different lifestyle.
Bloomberg reported that the weightlifter will receive $660,000 (33 million pesos) in cash prizes from the Filipino government and local businesspeople. Bloomberg also reported that the prize money is guaranteed to any Filipino athlete to win gold but had never been given before now.
On top of that, Diaz is expected to be given a house and lot in Tagaytay courtesy of Philippine Olympic president Abraham Tolentino, as well as a luxury $280,000 (14 million peso) condo in Eastwood City courtesy of Chinese Filipino billionaire Andrew Lim Tan.
-Ralf Rivas (@RalfRivas) July 27, 2021
"It's unbelievable, it's a dream come true," Diaz, who previously won a silver medal at Rio 2016, told AFP, Eurosport reported.
Diaz continued: "I want to say to the young generation in the Philippines: you can have this dream of gold too. This is how I started and finally I was able to do it.
"I'm looking forward to enjoying life because I have been in Malaysia for almost two years, so I'm really thankful I can go home now and celebrate with my family and the people who support me."