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With all the guts, glory, and superhuman feats of athletic prowess, it can be easy to forget Olympic competitors are just mere mortals like us.
But Olympic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz offered the perfect reminder in the moments after her record breaking gold medal win for her home country of the Philippines.
Asked what she would do now that she'd won the first Olympic gold ever for her country, Gomez replied "eat a lot," and nothing has ever been more relatable.
Filipino weightlifter broke down and said she planned to 'eat a lot' after winning her country's first Olympic gold… https://t.co/DA3d05ARY5— Sports Insider (@Sports Insider) 1627318944.0
Congrats PHILIPPINES on the very first gold metal! 🥇🏋🏽♀️ 🇵🇭 and of course it is a Filipina WOMAN who did it!!… https://t.co/iPt9cUvIqW— Manila Luzon (@Manila Luzon) 1627404210.0
Diaz certainly has plenty of reasons for a celebratory meal.
Not only is she the first Olympian in history to win a gold medal for the Philippines, but she did so while breaking the record in her event.
Her 127 kg clean and jerk bested the previous record set just moments before by Chinese competitor Liao Quiyun.
WATCH: Hidilyn Diaz's final clean and jerk lift that got her the gold medal. https://t.co/nftq2ORXJW— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRER Sports) 1627305143.0
These unprecedented feats make it easy to understand why Diaz immediately burst into tears after dropping her weight to the floor, as the reality of her achievement sank in.
Hidilyn’s winning moment 😭❤️❤️ Congratulations 🥰🥰 MY HANDS ARE STILL SHAKING 😭😭 https://t.co/Fdbgidrakg— rooda⁺⁺🥁 (@rooda⁺⁺🥁) 1627303551.0
History. Made. Hidilyn Diaz has won the first ever gold medal for Philippines! #PHI #Gold #PHI #Gold #PHI #Gold https://t.co/hrhavf2Iyp— Olympics (@Olympics) 1627304154.0
THIS IS OUR MOMENT: #PHI's first-ever #Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz salutes the Philippine flag as the natio… https://t.co/kQBUAIH4v0— Tonyo Cruz (@Tonyo Cruz) 1627304756.0
But it was her response to reporters that rang most true with people.
We may not all know what it's like to break the world record or win an Olympic medal, but we all know what it's like to be hungry.
Asked what's next for her after her Tokyo Olympics win, Diaz replied:
"Yes, I will eat a lot tonight. I mean, I've been sacrificing my food, and this is the time to celebrate together with the people who are behind me. So I'm really thankful I can eat now, yes."
So what will Diaz be feasting on as she basks in her Olympic glory?
For starters, cheesecake and bubble tea. A meal fit for an icon! And to be sure, Diaz has earned every bite.
After winning silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016 in a surprise upset, Diaz placed single-minded focus on winning gold in Tokyo, hiring a new training team and moving to Malaysia to train just as the pandemic began.
She's been locked down there ever since until her travels to Tokyo, and told reporters after the bubble tea and cheesecake, she can't wait to go home and be with her family.
On Twitter, people couldn't stop cheering for this new champion.
@nytimes Congrats to all the people of the Philippines. Enjoy this precious moment. I am so happy for you. I remem… https://t.co/FVeMv9sw9g— Esteban Salas (@Esteban Salas) 1627358794.0
@INQUIRERSports Congratulations 🎉🎈🍾🎊 Hidilyn Diaz for winning 🥇 the Philippines 🇵🇭 first ever Olympic Gold Medal 🥇… https://t.co/LSeTNnK9Gb— Noel Toraja Plazo (@Noel Toraja Plazo) 1627309245.0
@nytimes Thank you for this @nytimes. Hidilyn’s win is a symbol of unity and hope our country badly needs right now… https://t.co/uLVbUbi3d7— Kristoff 🤴🏻 (@Kristoff 🤴🏻) 1627362583.0
@CNN Salute to Filipina strength. 🇵🇭— 𝔽𝕃𝕆ℂℍ𝕀™ (@𝔽𝕃𝕆ℂℍ𝕀™) 1627373811.0
@esshimself As a Filipino, thank you so much, our Malaysian brothers and sisters. You've been of great help. Cheers… https://t.co/J5pTUByFuC— arkquen (@arkquen) 1627354319.0
@Tokyo2020 @kimykkk10 @iwfnet a woman for our first GOLD in olympics! can’t be more prouder than that.. 🇵🇭🥇— Sarah P. (@Sarah P.) 1627314813.0
Thank you, Hidilyn Diaz, for the first-ever Olympic Gold for the Philippines! We are so proud of you! 🇵🇭 https://t.co/JhRrKlPrm6— Manny Pacquiao (@Manny Pacquiao) 1627329052.0
@enews First Filipino athlete to clinch the gold at the Summer Olympics since the Philippines sent athletes to the… https://t.co/g9Z4ywcKKy— • Annα • (@• Annα •) 1627348317.0
not me crying watching powerhouse hidilyn diaz win the first ever gold medal for the Philippines 😭😭😭 https://t.co/16ZisRgMkf— alex (@alex) 1627335711.0
Diaz's gold medal win is particularly momentous given how long the Philippines has been participating in the Olympics.
They sent their first athletes 97 years ago, for the 1924 Paris games.