Diaz richer by $107,000 after Philippines wins first Olympic medal in 20 years

25-year-old surprised everyone with a weightlifting silver medal in Rio

Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz reacts during the women's 53kg weightlifting event at the Rio 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016. (AFP)

Hidilyn Diaz sprung a major surprise in the Philippines by winning a weightlifting silver medal in Rio - the country's first Olympic medal for 20 years, officials said Monday.

Sports analysts in the Philippines had not expected the 1.54-metre (5ft 1/2in) tall Diaz to bag a medal at the 2016 Games after coming up empty in 2008 and 2012 games.

"We had high hopes with other sports. So (Cruz's medal) is a surprise. A lot of people didn't expect she would take a medal," said Ronel Abrenica, executive-director of the Philippine Sports Commission.

But Abrenica said he noticed something from the 25-year-old, who became the first woman from the Philippines ever to win an Olympic medal.

"I was watching her before. I saw her sincerity and determination. You could see it in the way she talks. She was determined to win. She had the fire in the belly," he told AFP.

"Before she set off (for Rio), she told me, 'at least, I can get a bronze'. So this (silver) is a bonus," said Abrenica.

Diaz took the silver in the 53kg class, the first ever by a Filipino weightlifter, Abrenica said.

It was also the first Olympic medal for the Southeast Asian nation since boxer Mansueto Velasco took a silver in the 1996 games.

The two Filipino boxers in the 13-member contingent were  considered to have the best chances, as boxers had won five of the country's previous nine Olympic medals, sports analysts had said.

President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Martin Andanar, congratulated Diaz, saying "hers is (an inspiring story) about overcoming shyness but for an inspired nation, her road to Rio is a journey of grit, patience and determination."

He also said that Diaz is the country's first Olympic medallist from Duterte's home southern region of Mindanao.

Diaz's victory also has monetary benefits as Philippine law provides a five million peso ($107,000) prize to Olympic silver medallists, Abrenica said.

He added that the sports commission, which is in charge of funding the country's sports programmes, was also working with "private partners" to get Diaz additional benefits.

Like other Filipino sports heroes, such as boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, Diaz can also likely count on lucrative commercial offers once she returns home, he added.

By 

• AFP, http://www.emirates247.com/

P5 M, house and lot for Olympic medalist

Hidilyn Diaz’s parents Eduardo and Emelita, their fists held out in the campaign trademark of President Duterte, pose with their daughter’s first metal barbell at their home gym in Mampang, Zamboanga City yesterday. ROEL PAREÑO 

RIO DE JANEIRO – Hidilyn Diaz has just turned into an instant millionaire.

Without her knowing it perhaps, the 25-year-old who came from humble beginnings is bound to receive more than what she has ever dreamed of.

For winning the silver medal in women’s weightlifting, Diaz will get P5 million from the government as part of the Incentives Act.

There’s more to come from the private sector.

She will be showered with gifts, including a house and lot from 8990 Deca Homes. Don’t be surprised if someone gives her a brand new car as well.

Endorsements will come around, and she will get paid – well.

A grand hero’s welcome. The list could go on and on.

“She’s made the country proud,” the Philippine Sports Commission said yesterday.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez had reported Diaz’s feat to Malacañang at 4:30 a.m. yesterday and is trying to arrange for a grand welcome not only for the Zamboanga lass but also for her fellow Olympians.

“I have informed the President, through Sec. Christopher Go, to welcome her and all the sports heroes,” Ramirez said.

Republic Act 10699, the amended Incentives Law, guarantees Diaz P5 million for her breakthrough silver medal in the Olympics.

“By law, she’s going to get P5 million from the government. A private corporation, 8990 Deca Homes, will give house and lot to the Rio Olympic medalists, too, as well as token gifts to other Olympians,” Ramirez said.

“Today is a great day for Philippine sports. The government through the Philippine Sports Commission congratulates Hidilyn Diaz for winning the silver, our first Olympic medal in 20 years,” Ramirez said.

“Hidilyn proved that we Filipinos can excel against the best in the world. The lady athlete from Mindanao just made her country proud,” he added.

Like boxer Onyok Velasco in the 1996 Atlanta Games, a wealth of opportunities awaits the current golden girl of Philippine sports.

“I’m not thinking of those things,” she said as she walked back to the Athletes Village from the competition venue.

She had just won the silver in the 81 kg division, the medal safely tucked inside her backpack as she walked to the nearby village.

The bus was taking too long and Diaz surmised it would be faster to get to the village by walking.

Inside the main dining hall, she said she was glad that she could now eat anything and everything she wants. But she didn’t like the food.

“Sa kwarto na lang, may adobo,” she said, preferring to the adobo in her room.

Diaz recalled how hard life was when she was young. As a 10-year-old, she sold fish near their home and earned extra by washing jeepneys.

Her father drove a tricycle, and sometimes she would wash it for him.

“Naglilinis ako ng jeep. Nababayaran ako ng sampung piso (I earn P10 cleaning jeepneys),” she said.

“May pangkain na ako (I can buy food),” said Diaz, also recalling that when she was young she used to carry gallons and gallons of water to their house from the deep well.

“Dun siguro ako lumakas (That made me strong),” she said.

As she trained, Diaz said her mother would give her P20 for fare. But she would find a way to get free rides, so she could return the money to her mother.

“Mahirap ang buhay (Life was hard),” said the country’s first female Olympic medalist.

She said when the money comes, she’d buy a lot near their home in Zamboanga and build a weightlifting center for children.

“Para sa mga nangangarap din na maging (For those who dream of becoming) Olympic champions,” she said.

With her feat, the Philippines ended a 20-year medal drought in the Olympics.

And for that she will be rewarded. – With Olmin Leyba

 By Abac Cordero, http://www.philstar.com/

Pinay lifter Diaz wins silver medal in Rio Olympics

Hidilyn Diaz breaks the Philippines' 20-year Olympic medal drought

Hidilyn Diaz, of the Philippines, leaves the stage after a lift in the women's 53kg weightlifting competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 7, 2016.

Hidilyn Diaz just made history by becoming the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal.

The 25-year-old Diaz took home the silver medal for the 53kg weightlifting class on Sunday.

                                                                           Diaz completing a lift on Sunday

                                                                                MAGE: MIKE GROLL/AP

Gold medal winner Hsu Shu-Ching, of Taiwan, center, stands with silver medal winner Hidilyn Diaz, of the Philipines, left, and bronze medal winner Yoon Jin-hee, of South Korea, right.

MAGE: MIKE GROLL/AP

Her win is also the country's first Olympic medal in 20 years, since Mansueto Velasco's 1996 silver win for boxing.

Arianne Cerdeña is the only other woman to win an Olympic medal for the Philippines. She won the gold medal in women's bowling in 1988 in Seoul, but her medal for the demonstration event isn't counted in the tally because bowling isn't an official Olympic sport.

It's not Diaz's first time at the Olympics. Diaz competed at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, where she was in the 58kg category. 

Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines reacts after competing during the women's 58-kg, group B, weightlifting competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

IMAGE: HASSAN AMMAR/AP

She was also the Philippines' flag bearer in 2012

Hidilyn Diaz carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics

IMAGE: MARK HUMPHREY/AP

Diaz is probably out celebrating her momentous win; her social accounts have been quiet for the past few days, although she was tweeting and posting photos in Rio leading up to competition.

Victoria Ho, http://mashable.com/

Rio 2016: Vietnam wins first ever Olympic gold medal

Hoang Xuan Vinh is expected to receive $100,000 from the state on returning to Vietnam - a figure nearly 50 times greater than the country's average national income

Hoang Xuan Vinh of Vietnem displays his gold medal following the victory ceremony for the men's 10-meter air pistol event at Olympic Shooting Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016 AP

Vietnam has won its first gold medal since it began competing in the Olympic Games more than 60 years ago, after it beat host country Brazil and rival China in the men’s 10-metre air pistol competition.

Hoang Xuan Vinh, a 41 year-old army colonel, made history in Rio by racking up a score of 202.5 in 20 shots and firing a near bullseye to take gold. 

Vinh is expected to receive $100,000 from the state on returning to Vietnam, AFP reports, citing the country's state media. A figure nearly 50 times greater than the country's average national income, which is around $2,100. 

                      Hoang Xuan Vinh of Vietnam reacts after winning gold (Reuters)

He finished 0.4 of a point ahead of Brazil's Felipe Wu, a 24-year-old who is competing in his first Olympics. China's Pang Wei took the bronze, while defending Olympic champion Jin Jong-oh of South Korea finished fifth. 

Vinh's victory over Wei has dominated media reports in Vietnam, which has shared a rivalry with China for centuries and it has become increasingly tense over recent years over competing claims to the South China Sea. 

Beijing lays claim to the majority of the strategic waters, clashing with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, which also have rival claims. 

Last month, information screens at major airports in Hanoi and Ho Chin Minh were attacked by hackers who displayed anti-Vietnamese and Philippines slogans referencing the South China Sea. 

Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, a Vietnamese music show host based in the US, said over Facebook: "So proud! But the greatest happiness was that we won over China!". Facebook user Nguyan Dat added: "Vietnamese sport has begun a new chapter. Defeating the Chinese athlete, hosts Brazil and the current South Korean champion."

Gold medal winner, Hoang Xuan Vinh of Vietnam, center, silver medal winner, Felipe Almeida Wu of Brazil, left, and bronze medalist Pang Wei of China, at the victory ceremony for the men's 10-meter air pistol event (AP)

According to Vietnam's state media, Vinh learned how to shoot by practising on AK47 rifles, while a member of the country's military, which he joined in 1991. 

“I’m very lucky, it’s the first gold medal in Vietnam’s history, I feel very lucky, thank you everybody,” said Vinh at a press conference, the Vietnamese Thanhnien News reports. 

“Making this gold medal is a life memory, I'll never forget this. Because [it is the] first time making a gold medal for Vietnam.

“The Brazilian shooter was very fast and stronger, but I think only ‘try, try, try’. On the last shot I don’t think gold or silver. I think only 'try'.”

Minister of Sports Nguyen Ngoc Thien said: "This victory came from the courageous spirit and the utmost determination of the athlete, his coaches and from key investment ahead of the 2016 Olympics."

Vinh's gold is the third Olympic medal won by Vietnam since it began competing in the Games in 1952. Its first medal was in 2000 when Taekwondo artist Tran Hieu Ngan won silver in Sydney and its second was in 2008 when weightlifter Hoang Anh Tuan won silver in Beijing. 

• Alexandra Sims, http://www.independent.co.uk/

Virginia Thrasher wins first gold medal of Rio Olympics for USA in 10m air rifle

             American 19-year-old holds nerve to clinch first gold of Games
               Thrasher edges out China’s Du Li with Olympic-record display

 Virginia Thrasher, centre, holds her gold medal for the women’s 10m air rifle competition, with China’s runner-up Du Li, left, and third-placed Yi Siling. Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP

The American teenager Virginia Thrasher won the first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, holding her nerve to clinch the women’s 10‑metre air-rifle event.

Thrasher edged out China’s Du Li with an Olympic record score of 208. The result is quite a surprise. Thrasher is ranked 23 in the world and Du had been dominant in qualifying.

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Thrasher shot 10.5 on her first shot of the final elimination round and smiled after 10.4 on her second shot put her comfortably ahead of Du. Thrasher had a cumulative score of 208.0 to beat Du, a two-time gold medallist, by a point. The bronze medal was claimed by the 2012 Olympic champion, Yi Siling of China.

Thrasher became the first freshman to win both individual NCAA rifle titles and helped West Virginia to win the team title. She followed that by winning the US Olympic trials less than a month later, earning a trip to Rio.

https://www.theguardian.com

Olympic judo 2016 results: Host nation Brazil earns 1st gold medal

Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Brazil is on the board in gold, as Rafaela Silva won the women's judo 57kg division.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Rafaela Silva made history as the first Brazilian to win an Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016, and the first thing that went through the judoka's head as she received the medal at the podium was her frustrating run at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Silva was disqualified against Hedvig Karakas in London. As she returned to Brazil, an avalanche of racist comments online almost made her quit the sport. Silva was disappointed with her result and shocked with the way her countrymen treated her.

Silva came close to retiring at age 20, but a psychologist named Nell Salgado managed to bring her back to the mats with one simple question: do you see yourself away from judo in two years?

"After my loss in London, I was going to quit judo," Silva said. "I started working with a psychologist, and he didn't let me quit. My coaches made me work hard every day, even when I didn't get good results in 2014 and 2015. People said I wasn't good enough, but I trained hard for two years and here is the result."

Silva won the gold medal after beating Mongolia's Sumiya Dorjsuren, her fifth win of the day. On her way to the final, the Brazilian had the chance to avenge the 2012 loss against Karakas, and it came in a tough battle.

The first bronze medal for the women went to Telma Monteiro of Portugal, who managed to best Caprioriu of Romania in the match. The second bronze medal went to Kaori Matsumoto, who bested Lien Chen-Ling of Chinese Taipei.

Marti Malloy represented the United States in the 57kg division, and was a contender for a medal as she was seeded third in the bracket. But the London 2012 bronze medalist found herself on the losing end of her opening match to Chen-Ling.

Athletes have to deal with excessive criticism in Brazil. The way some casual fans are, athletes are treated like trash if they don't win titles. Silva, who stayed away from social media heading into the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to avoid "unnecessary comments," won't fire back at the racists now that she's at the top of the world.

"For those who criticized me, who said that I was an embarrassment for my family and didn't have what it takes to be in the Olympics, that I should be in a cage instead of the Olympics, I could make my family happy today," she said. "They said I wasn't meant for judo, that a monkey should be in a cage instead of the Olympics. I have no message for them, only this medal in my chest."

As important as winning the biggest title of her career in judo, the 24-year-old fighter from Cidade de Deus, the dangerous community in Rio de Janeiro that inspired a movie City of God, hopes that overcoming a rough life inspires others to do the same.

"I started in judo when I was five years old, and didn't really have a goal in the sport except for having fun," Silva said. "When I started winning tournaments I thought I could be in the Olympics one day.

"We don't have many goals at Cidade de Deus. We live our lives in there and don't have many things. If I could show kids that it's possible to make your dreams come true, to believe that it's possible, then I'm happy. I started in judo just for fun, and now I'm the Olympic champion. It's unbelievable."

In the men's 73kg division, Nick Delpopolo was the top competitor for the US. He made it quite a bit further than Malloy, making his way through to the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, he lost that matchup and was sent to the repechage round, where he had one more chance to get a shot at a bronze medal.

There he faced Miklos Ungvari of Hungary and unfortunately lost, ending his bid for Olympic hardware. Delpopolo was disqualified from the 2012 London Olympics over a pot brownie.

The gold medal match saw Rustam Orujov of Azerbaijan taking on Shohei Ono of Japan. Orujov came out in the match very aggressive, but Ono took advantage of that and managed the ippon for the gold medal. Orujov ended up with the silver.

The first bronze medal in the men's event went to Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia, who bested Sagi Muki of Israel in that match. The other bronze went to Dirk Van Tichelt of Belgium, who submitted Ungvari.

By Guilherme Cruz and James Brady, http://www.sbnation.com/

Rio Olympics 2016 opening ceremony kicks off with a vibrant bang - and unfortunate reminders of troubled backdrop to the Games

RIO OLYMPICS OFFICIALLY OPEN AFTER MIXED OPENING CEREMONY

The Rio Olympics officially started with a long and loud celebration of Brazilian culture that also featured some unfortunate reminders of the troubled backdrop to these Games.

The dominant images from the four-hour opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium will be supermodel Gisele Bundchen's catwalk across the pitch to The Girl From Ipanema, the joyous arrival of Brazil's team and former marathon star Vanderlei de Lima lighting an Olympic cauldron that morphed into a golden disco ball.

But the boos that greeted acting Brazilian president Michel Temer's short address to open the Games, the smattering of jeers the Russian team received and the catcalls that followed a reference to government funding tell a different story.

Rio 2016 has had a difficult upbringing, with worries about the country's ability to afford it, Rio's preparations and sport's credibility in the face of a divisive doping crisis, but South America's first ever Olympics is now ready to entertain the world and perhaps revive a nation.

Temer, who took office in May when impeachment procedures were started against president Dilma Rousseff, tried to postpone his poor reception by opting out of the initial welcome alongside International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.

This meant the first boos of the evening went to the team from Brazil's traditional rival, Argentina, although they were of the pantomime variety and the selfie-snapping Argentinians did not seem fazed.

Members of the Brazil delegation cheer during the opening ceremony CREDIT: AFP

But by that point the Maracana was in full-on party mode as a succession of dancers, musicians and volunteers raced through routines intended to showcase Brazil's diversity and history, even finding time for a lecture on environmental issues.

Bundchen's long sashay was an early highlight, as was a clever section that featured a biplane appearing to fly out of the stadium and circle the city's signature Christ the Redeemer statue.

The ceremony's creative director Fernando Meirelles had less money to spend than his predecessors, including Danny Boyle, the mastermind of London 2012's memorable show, but he promised "the coolest party" and gave it a good go.

The Parade of Nations is always the Games' first big test of stamina, and with new countries such as Kosovo and South Sudan taking their place in the pageant for the first time, as well as a team of refugee athletes, Rio's race through the atlas was even more gruelling than usual.

Performers in the opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium CREDIT: GETTY

But there were big cheers for nations with large immigrant communities in Brazil, such as Italy and Japan, and roars for the more recognisable flag bearers such as Rafa Nadal and Michael Phelps.

Team GB's Andy Murray would appear to have some work to do in South America to match that pair's appeal, but the Scot waved the Union Flag with gusto and the British squad was given a warm reception.

One of the most eagerly-awaited teams, certainly among the press corps, was Russia's, if only to see if a team from a nation that had tried to fix the last Olympics - in Sochi, two years ago, through doping - really would be allowed to compete again, and hear if they would be booed.

As it happened, their arrival, sandwiched between Rwanda and the Solomon Islands, was relatively low key, with some jeers that were quickly drowned out by the pockets of Russian support in the crowd.

Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony CREDIT: GETTY

That was never going to be an issue for Brazil's team, which brought the parade to its traditional conclusion five minutes short of two hours, and only five minutes behind schedule.

Chants of "Brasil, Brasil, Brasil" reverberated around the stadium just before they emerged from the tunnel and then the crowd erupted as the athletes danced and skipped across stage.

This brought us to the main speeches by the chairman of the Rio 2016 organising committee, Carlos Nuzman, and IOC boss Bach.

These are difficult times for a country that was enjoying rapid economic growth when Rio won the right to host the Games but is now in recession and with a government in tatters.

Bach, however, said the Games were a "catalyst for transforming Rio into a modern metropolis that is even more beautiful than before", while Nuzman said he was the "proudest man alive" that his city had got this far.

Fireworks over Maracana stadium with the Mangueira 'favela' community in the foreground  CREDIT: GETTY

Nuzman's mention of government support for Rio 2016's budget was briefly jeered, but he was on safer ground when he told the crowd "the whole world is here".

The biggest cheers for Bach's speech came when he welcomed the team of refugee athletes, saying the Olympics were the answer to the world's "growing selfishness".

There then followed the first ever awarding of the new "Olympic laurel" to Kenyan running great Kip Keino, before the traditional unfurling of the Olympic Flag, rendition of the Olympic Anthem and recitation of Olympic oaths.

That set the stage for the night's final act: lighting the cauldron, which was done by de Lima, a late replacement for the unwell Pele.

And with that, the athletes started to file out and head for their beds, while the bulk of the crowd recorded the fireworks on their smartphone cameras.

The 31st Summer Olympics start for real later on Saturday, not a moment too soon for a city and a country in need of a lift, and an Olympic family desperate to get back to what really matters - the sport.

•  Alan Tyers , http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

The Rio Olympics organizers are giving out enough condoms for each athlete to have sex 84 times

Rio 2016 athletes may have grounds to complain about sewer-infested waters, or half-empty stands. A shortage of contraceptives, however, is not bound to be a problem.

Olympic organizers are distributing 450,000 condoms (link in Portuguese) to athletes, Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo reports. In the interest of equality and variety, 100,000 of those will be female condoms, and 175,000 lubricant sachets will also be available.

That’s an Olympic record at the equivalent of 42 condoms per athlete. Presuming the athletes are paired with one another and using only one condom per encounter, that’s enough contraception for 84 encounters. During the 2012 London games, organizers handed out a third as many condoms as will be distributed in Rio. And only 100,000 condoms were given out at the 2014 winter games in Sochi.

With Brazil in the midst of an outbreak of Zika, which can be sexually transmitted, safe sex is an even higher priority than in previous Olympics. Rio organizers did not comment to Folha on the enormous condom deployment. The International Olympic Committee merely said the amount should be sufficient.

Since the 1992 games in Barcelona, dispensing free condoms has become a tradition to promote the prevention of AIDS. The supply must come in handy, given the reports of free-wheeling sexual activity at Olympic villages. This year, the Australian team is taking no risks. It’s traveling with its own supplies of condoms with anti-viral gel.

Olympic sex. (Reuters/Bazuki Muhammad), http://qz.com/