This Olympic athlete proudly holds up her gold medal and Mary’s Miraculous medal

The elusive Olympic gold medal was not the only one that 30-year-old weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz was wearing in her victory photos.

The Zamboangueña made history on Monday when she won in the women’s 55-kilogram category for weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and took home the country’s first-ever gold medal in the Olympics.

Her achievement brings the Philippines’ all-time Olympic medal tally to one gold, three silvers and seven bronzes.

When pictures of her wearing the medal were reported on news outlets, some Filipinos noticed a silver pendant hanging on her neck.

It was the Miraculous Medal of Our Lady of Graces, one of the most recognized and popular devotional items associated with miracles and conversions.

TV host and producer Daphne Osena Paez noted that Diaz’s first original Instagram Story after the win was a picture of her holding the silver pendant:

“Who among us didn’t shed a tear with her when the (Philippine national anthem) played, her dignified salute, the moment she knew she won when she lifted… and the first thing she said and did was to praise God…”

Jeline Malasig, July 27, 2121

Adapted from philstar.com