Weightlifting runs in the blood among the Diaz as Hidilyn’s nephew Matthew nabbed gold in weightlifting’s return at Palarong Pambansa.
Greatness runs in the family for Hidilyn Diaz and his nephew Matthew as the latter struck gold in weightlifting’s return at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte on Monday afternoon.
Matthew, hailing from CALABARZON, lifted 73kg at the Snatch before wrapping it up with a 93kg lift in Clean and Jerk to propel himself at the top step of the podium, all while Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn was in attendance.
Matthew won the first medal dangled for the Palarong Pambansa which marked weightlifting’s return in decades, as he conquered the Secondary Boys 48kg category in the multi-sport event.
It can be recalled that Matthew’s aunt Hidilyn was among the persistent advocates to have weightlifting back in the country’s premier youth multi-sport event.
[READ: Weightlifting returns as exhibition sport to 2025 Palarong Pabansa]
Coming second to Matthew was Generosmel Cortez of Region IX while Rayney Joy Espina of NCR wrapped up the podium finishers with bronze.
Currently, weightlifting is considered as an exhibition sport in the Palarong Pambansa along with Kickboxing.
Dancesport is also included among the events that are considered as as a “demo sport” for the event.