Hidilyn Diaz outclasses field, dominates world championships


Hidilyn Diaz added another hardware to her growing medal collection after sweeping three gold medals in the 2022 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia Wednesday, Dec. 7 (Thursday in Manila).

Hidilyn Diaz (AFP file photo)

The reigning Olympic champion proved she was a cut above the rest after ruling the women’s 55kg division with ease following a total lift of 207 kg.

She displayed superiority in snatch after lifting 93 kg on her second attempt and assured herself of the clean & jerk gold as early as after clearing 114 kg on her first try.

As if unsatisfied with her clean & jerk performance, she attempted 117 kg and 121 kg on her last two tries, but registered a no lift.

Diaz’s feat bolstered her campaign to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, though she may have to jump into a higher weight category as the women’s 55 kg was scrapped in the lineup.

Overall, Diaz has dominated all high-level sporting events including the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Olympics.

Meanwhile, hometown bet Rosalba Morales tried to overcome Diaz in clean & jerk but failed on her two attempts at 115 kg.

Still, the South American Games champion settled for silver with a 199 kg total, while winning bronze in snatch (89 kg) and silver in clean & jerk (110 kg).

Tokyo Olympian Ana Lopez Ferrer of Mexico bagged the bronze in total with a 198 kg lift apart from winning silver in snatch (90 kg).

Peru’s Shoely Mego Contreras, meanwhile, won the bronze in clean & jerk with 109 kg.