The Philippines has won its first ever gold medal at an Olympics after women’s weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz topped the 55-kilogram category on Day three of Tokyo 2020. She swept away tears as she took to the podium, having ended her country’s 97 year wait for an Olympic gold.
Earlier GB’s Alex Yee won a silver medal in the men’s triathlon event behind Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt, who put in so much effort he collapsed on the finish and had to be carried away on a wheelchair, but he was OK and fully deserving of gold. Jonny Brownlee couldn’t add another medal to his collection and ended his brilliant Olympic career with a fifth-place finish.
Adam Peaty won gold in the 100m breaststroke final, while Australia’s Ariarne Titmus edged American great Katie Ledecky in an epic women’s 400m freestyle final soon afterwards. Tom Daley and Matty Lee then clinched a spectacular gold in the men’s 10m synchronised platform, edging out heavy favourites China with a magnificent final dive. The gold rush of ‘Magic Monday’ then continued as 21-year-old Tom Pidcock won gold in the men’s cross country mountain bike race for Great Britain’s third gold medal in as many hours.
Lauren Williams won Great Britain’s fifth medal of the day but she had to settle for silver after she was defeated by Croatia’s Matea Jelic in the closing seconds of the women’s taekwondo -67kg final. Elsewhere, the Russian Olympic Committee won the first gymnastics gold in the men’s team event, with Team GB matching their fourth place finish from Rio five years ago.
