Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino gave words of reassurance to 2020 Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz after she failed to book her return to the quadrennial sports meet.
Tolentino assured that POC will continue to support Diaz, and that the 33-year old Filipina weightlifter has no reason to apologize.
"Hidilyn, you are still our champion! Respect for winning the first gold medal in the Olympics for our country," Tolentino said on Friday, April 5, in a Facebook post.
"Continue pursuing your passion, and we are here to support you. Don't say sorry, anak, you're still the queen," the POC chief added.
The four-time Olympian finished at 11th place in the 2024 in the women's 59 kilogram category of the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.
Diaz registered a total lift of 222 kilograms after she registered 99 kilograms in the snatch portion, and the 123 kilograms in the clean-and-jerk category.
In lieu of Diaz, Filipina weightlifter Elreen Ando will represent the Philippines in the said weight class in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Ando finished at seventh place in the IWF World Cup with a total lift of 228 kilograms (100 kilograms in snatch, and 128 kilograms in clean-and-jerk).
Diaz made history for the Philippines after she won the gold medal in the women's 55 kilograms weightlifting event of the 32nd Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
She registered a total lift of 224 kilograms (97 kilograms in snatch, and 127 kilograms in the clean-and-jerk) to snag the first Olympic gold medal of the Philippines.
