2024 Paris Olympics: Elreen Ando in, Hidilyn Diaz out
Filipino weightlifter Elreen Ando secured her spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics for the women's 59 kg weight division, causing Hidilyn Diaz to miss the Summer Games.
Ando finished a combined lift of 228 kg (100 kg snatch, 128 kg clean and jerk) at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup held in Phuket in Thailand on April 3.
Though Diaz had a higher ranking than Ando when they entered the World Cup, she finished a combined lift 224 kg (99 kg snatch, 123 kg clean and jerk).
Ando told ABS-CBN News that she’s elated because her training has paid off.
"Ang daming kong na-sacrifice,” she said. “Ang laki ng tiwala ko sa sarili ko.”
Ando, who hails from Cebu, reportedly didn’t go home for four months—and missed her mother’s death anniversary last March 8—as she was busy training for the games.
Diaz, meanwhile, is still thankful for everyone’s support despite missing her would-be fifth Olympics appearance.
"I'm always grateful," she said. "Even today, I'm grateful that I have true friends. Kahit manalo, matalo, nandiyan kayo.”
Aside from Ando, other Filipino weightlifters who qualified for the Paris Olympics are John Ceniza (men’s 61 kg) and Rosegie Ramos (women’s 49 kg).
Diaz made history as the first Filipino athlete—and a woman at that—to win a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for the women’s 55 kg category.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to Aug. 11.
