Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz fell short of a medal in the women’s 58kg event at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games on Sunday, December 14, finishing with a total lift of 200kg.
Diaz successfully lifted 88kg and 90kg in the snatch but failed at 92kg. In the clean and jerk, she managed 110kg but missed attempts at 115kg and 116kg. Her total trailed Vietnam’s Thi Tam Quang, who claimed the bronze with 215kg.
Thailand’s Suratwadee Yodsarn took gold with 224kg, while Indonesia’s Natasya Beteyob earned silver at 218kg.
“I did not win any medal for the Philippines this SEA Games. This is my best for now,” Diaz said, noting that she continues to struggle with a right knee injury that also affected her 2024 Paris Olympics qualifying.
“After not qualifying in Paris, medyo nawalan ako ng motivation. This is my first international competition after 2024,” she added.
Diaz, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was attempting her third SEA Games gold but skipped the 2023 edition. Despite the result, she highlighted her perseverance as a “not giving up story.”
Asked about retirement, Diaz said, “Depende sa takbo ng mga plano…Nando’n tayo malapit sa retirement, pero siyempre kailangan tingnan,” while hinting at preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in the 61kg division.