PASIG CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of National Defense (DND) has expressed pride and lauded Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for her historic gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympic Games Monday night.

Diaz, a Philippine Air Force sergeant, bagged the country's first gold medal since joining the Olympiad in 1924 after dominating the women's 55-kg. weightlifting competition.

"Her success is a testament to the unwavering spirit of the Filipino to rise above all odds," Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told the PIA-NCR. 

Diaz, a 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist, prevailed in a neck and neck showdown with China's Liao Qiuyun in the clean-and-jerk lift as their battle for the gold went down the wire.

Finishing tied with Diaz in the snatch with a 97-kg. maximum lift, Liao lifted 126 kg. in her final lift, forcing Diaz to go for 127 to steal the top spot from Liao.

Diaz, however, smoothly cleared the 127-kg. lift to win it all, also setting an Olympic record in the process.

Her 224-kg. total is also an Olympic record.

"Your One Defense Team is proud of you, Sergeant Diaz!" Lorenzana said. (PIA-NCR)