The city government prepared a heroes welcome for Zamboangueño Olympic Medalists Hidilyn Diaz and Eumir Felix Marcial Wednesday afternoon.
Both were onboard a Philippine Air Force Plane which landed at Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB), followed by an unveiling of markers at RT Lim Boulevard, then a program at City Hall.
Marcial, thanked everyone for their support love and support.
“Nohay malisut na disiplina, determinasyon, y reso,” Marcial said.
The Olympic Gold Medalist Diaz became emotional remembering how she started weightlifting out of curiousity.
“Si nohay si God, nohay di ustedes supporta, nohay este Gold medal,” Diaz said.
She added, “Taki iyo, nohay yo man give up, ya usa cumigo si God para dale cun ustedes inspirasyon.”
Diaz won the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines for weightlifting in the women’s 55kg category in Tokyo, Japan Olympics.
Diaz lifted 97 kg for snatch and 127kg clean n jerk total of 224 kg to win the gold besting several countries.
Team Hidilyn Diaz is composed of Coach Kaiwen Gao, Coach Julius Naranjo, Dr. Karen Trinidad, and Jeaneth Aro.
The team look over the technic and skills training, the strength and conditioning training, the mental skills training and weight cut/recovery nutrition strategies.
Diaz receive P2.5 million incentive coming from the city while Marcial P1 Million. This was given during the program.
Diaz is a veteran Olympian, she already competed during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, and during the 2016 Rio de Jeneiro Olympics she bagged the silver medal for the Philippines and now, the gold medal.
The lady weightlifter is a resident of barangay Mampang where she has a female sister and four brothers. She is the fifth child of Eduardo and Emelita Diaz where Emelita is a housewife while the head of the family, Eduardo is a tricycle driver.
Marcial, from barangay Lunzuran won Bronze in the boxing and a first timer Olympian.
Diaz and Marcial are both member of the Philippine Air Force.
