BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Carlos Yulo’s journey to becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics at the 2024 Paris Olympics is nothing short of a fairy tale. From his humble beginnings to international stardom, Yulo has captivated the world with his extraordinary talent and relentless determination.

Yulo’s story began as a young gymnast competing in the Palarong Pambansa, a national sports competition in the Philippines. In 2009, as part of the National Capital Region’s elementary team, he clinched gold and demonstrated his potential by placing fifth in the individual all-around event and securing silver in the floor exercise. These early successes set the stage for his meteoric rise.

The year 2018 marked Yulo’s international breakthrough. He burst onto the scene at the Melbourne World Cup, where he earned a bronze medal on the vault. He then dazzled at the Baku World Cup with a silver medal on the vault and at the Doha World Cup with another silver in the floor exercise.

At the 2018 Asian Games, Yulo’s performance in the qualification round’s floor exercise was nothing short of spectacular, making him a standout in the competition.

However, it was at the 2018 World Championships in Doha that Yulo etched his name in the annals of gymnastics history. As the first Filipino gymnast to qualify for a World Championships final, he finished 23rd in the all-around final and claimed bronze in the floor exercise. This milestone not only made him the first Filipino but also the first male Southeast Asian gymnast to win a World Championships medal.

The following year, Yulo’s ascent continued as he made history again at the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. His performance in the men’s floor exercise earned him the gold medal, a first for a Filipino gymnast. Scoring 84.048 points across all six apparatus, Yulo set the standard for excellence in the competition.

Yulo’s journey was not without challenges, but his resilience and dedication shone through. His stellar performances at the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships further solidified his status as a gymnastics powerhouse. He qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish in the men’s vault event.

Undeterred, Yulo set his sights on the 2024 Paris Olympics. His rigorous training and unwavering focus culminated in a historic achievement: winning gold medals in both the floor exercise and vault events. This remarkable feat made him the first Filipino athlete to win two gold medals at a single Olympics, an accomplishment that resonated across the globe.

Carlos Yulo’s journey from a young gymnast with dreams to a double Olympic gold medalist is a testament to his extraordinary talent, perseverance, and the indomitable spirit of a champion. His story continues to inspire aspiring athletes in the Philippines and beyond, proving that with hard work and dedication, the sky is the limit.

During his first win, Caloy was seen doing the sign of the cross after hearing the confirmation that he won his first gold. In an interview, he said: he is “very thankful and grateful sa Panginoon—binigyan niya ako ng lakas ng loob, pinrotektahan niya ako and guided po ako”.  (Very thankful and grateful to God. He gave me strength, protected me and guided me.)

In another interview, he repeated, “Thank you Lord talaga… pinrotektahan Niya ako. Na-save ko yon and maganda yung mga landings ko nung mga sumunod. Hindi yun yung perfect competition pero ito yung perfect moment para sa akin.” (Thank you, Lord. He protected and saved me. My following landings are good. It was not a perfect competition but it was the perfect timing for me.)

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from AFP