Hidilyn Diaz finally did it.
The Philippines’ only Olympic champion to date dominated the Women’s 55kg division at the 2022 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogotá and added that elusive world title to her illustrious resume.
Tokyo 2020 gold medalist dropped 93kg in snatch, 114kg clean, 207kg total to beat local favorite Rozalba Morales (199kg) on ??Wednesday evening (December 7). Bronze went to Ana Gabriel Lopez (Mexico).
With a total starting weight of 210.0 kg, Diaz finished second behind the Colombian, but this time it was to be.
After having to settle for bronze in the women’s 53kg category at the 2015 and 2017 world championships and again in the 55kg category at last year’s event, Diaz was finally able to add a world title to her gold medals at the Olympics, Asia and the Sea.
“I’m finally winning at the World Championships. I’m very happy with that,” said Diaz, whose careful preparation for the World Championship has paid off. The Filipino couple first spent a week at a training camp in the United States before heading to Colombia for another week of acclimatization.
This was her last major competition in the 55 kg class as that weight class was dropped Paris 2024 where he plans to move up to 59 kg for his fifth and final Olympics.
“It was a good moment because it’s the last time I’m competing in the 55 kg category,” she revealed.
The IWF World Championships are as well first qualifiers for the Paris Olympics with valuable ranking points up for grabs.
2022 World Weightlifting Championships: Competition Schedule (A Finals Only)
Thursday 8 December
Women 59 kg
Friday December 9
Men 67 kg
Men 73 kg
Saturday December 10
Women 64 kg
Sunday December 11
Men 81 kg
Men 89 kg
Monday December 12
Men 96 kg
Women 71 kg
Tuesday December 13
Women 76 kg
Men 102 kg
Wednesday December 14
Women 81 kg
Men 87 kg
Thursday 15 December
Women +87kg
Men 109 kg
Friday December 16
Men +109kg
