The Future Is Female With Olympians Hidilyn Diaz and Nesthy Petecio at the Tokyo Games
Hidilyn Diaz and Nesthy Petecio blaze the way with the first-ever multi-medal win for the nation since 1932, a much-awaited breakthrough made even more memorable by the victories of Filipina women.
The triumph of the Filipina woman takes center stage, as female athletes weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and boxer Nesthy Petecio garner gold and bronze medals. The two athletes are pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a Filipina in this day and age. A symbolic and historic win for the Philippines, their story is one of grit, dedication, and diligence. Amidst the pandemic, Filipinos worldwide have united and celebrated the wins of the Olympians with an outpour of emotion as a response. Both women have given young Filipinas new role models and have inspired aspiring athletes to reach unprecedented heights. By breaking glass ceilings, a new and inclusive world is within our reach as these trailblazers shatter stereotypical perceptions.
Hidilyn Diaz ended the century-long gold drought with her Olympic record, lifting a combined weight of 227 kilograms in the women’s 55-kilogram class. The athlete had grown up in Zamboanga, weightlifting at the tender age of eleven years old using pieces of wood. Diaz debuted at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the youngest female weightlifter in the Games at 17 years old. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, she became the first-ever female athlete from the Philippines to become a silver medalist. Now a four-time Olympian, her victory at Tokyo 2020 has uplifted the Filipino spirit, putting weightlifting on the map for the Philippines. Diaz is living proof that success is awarded to those who work hard for it — irrespective of gender.
Despite this being her first time at the Olympics, Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio is guaranteed a bronze medal as a result of her featherweight quarterfinal win against Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda of Colombia. A gold medal is still in contention as the 29-year-old Davao native will be fighting in the semifinals this Saturday against Italian Irma Testa. Petecio is the first Filipino boxer to win an Olympic medal since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco in the 1996 Atlanta Games.
There is an encouraging and ambitious community of women who empower and support each other. This can be said especially about skateboarder Margielyn Didal whose charisma and positive energy stole the hearts of many at the Tokyo Games. Despite the scarcity of skate parks in the Philippines, Didal finished seventh in the women’s street skateboarding final of Tokyo 2020. Her warm personality caught the attention of Olympic spectators as she supported fellow athletes and made the most of her experience.
Representing our nation through friendliness and Filipino sportsmanship, the 22-year-old finished her Olympic debut with a cheerful “My first Olympic was epic.”
Diaz, Petecio, and Didal ensure Filipina women everywhere to keep their eye on the prize. They fuel the fire needed to bring about change and make their mark on history one milestone at a time. Alongside inspirational refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini and Japanese gold medalist skater Momiji Nishiya, our fervent female athletes challenge the patriarchy and fight for equal rights on the global stage.
What’s to come after this extraordinary moment for both women and the Philippines? Filipina athletes Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, Yuka Saso, Margielyn Didal, and Irish Magno demonstrate that empowerment is contagious and resilience makes sportswomen champions. As the flag rises and the Philippine national anthem plays, one can see that these talented Filipinas are at the helm of change.
