Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz and her road to the Rio Olympics

J.F.R. Perseveranda 7/31/2016 05:00:00 PM

Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines competes during the women’s 58-kg, group B, weightlifting competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 30, 2012, in London.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz will compete in her third Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

Hidilyn Diaz, the 25-year old weightlifter from Zamboanga City, was a wildcard entry at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She finished just above last place. At the 2012 Olympics in London, Hidilyn was the Philippines flag bearer. She finished in the bottom half of 19 competitors in her weight class.

By: J.F.R. Perseveranda

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Posted by: J.F.R. Perseveranda

Former IT Product Manager at Pacific Gas & Electric. Photographer at JFPerseveranda.com. Founder, Social Media Manager & Content Creator at Pinoybuilt.com. I'm a 1.5 generation immigrant—Filipino-born, U.S.-raised—sharing stories that bridge cultures. Share yours at PINOYBUILT.com. I’m still learning about our roots, and I invite you to learn with me. I was born in Makati City and raised in Marikina, known for world-class shoes and strong community ties. I went to Marist School; my sister went to St. Scholastica’s. We spent weekends in Malate—those memories of old Manila still shape who I am. At 9, we moved to Chicago, where I saw snow for the first time. At 12, we relocated to Vallejo, CA. Since then, I’ve lived in Davis, Glendale (SoCal), back to Chicago in my 20s, San Francisco & Fremont. I visit SoCal often for family. Chicago will always be special—but go Golden State Warriors! At UC Davis, I was a member of Mga Kapatid, where I had the chance to participate in Pilipino Culture Night and perform traditional dances like Bangko. Now, as a father of three, I’m doing my best to pass on our Filipino heritage. Let’s build something Filipino together. Mabuhay. Salamat!