Pinoy gymnast Carlos Yulo still couldn't believe his golden moment in Paris 2024 amid all the ups and downs since Tokyo 2020.
From a disappointing run in Tokyo 2020 to a golden campaign in Paris 2024.
Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo’s redemption story is complete after bringing the Philippines its second gold medal in Olympic history.
Yulo became the first Filipino to win a gold medal in Paris 2024. He is also the first male Philippine athlete to secure an Olympic gold and the first Filipino gymnast to reach the Olympic podium.
He is the second Philippine athlete to secure an Olympic gold medal, after Hidilyn Diaz in Tokyo 2020.
Even after taking some time to express his emotions, the 24-year-old gymnastics star still couldn’t believe what had just happened.
“Sobrang overwhelming nung experience na ito sakin. Grabe, wala lumalabas kundi pasasalamat sa Diyos na hindi niya ako pinabayaan, walang nangyaring masama samin,” Yulo told One Sports’ Boom Gonzalez.
“Tagal kong pinagdasal ito, tagal kong pinagtrabahuan ito kasama siya. Siyempre kasama 'yung mga staff, si coach Aldrin, si ma'am Cynthia [Carreon], 'yung partner ko [Chloe San Jose], 'yung family ng partner ko,” he added.
Yulo even admitted to losing sleep heading into the floor exercise finals. Despite this, Yulo seemingly had everything go his way to score 15.000, which was enough to seal the gold.
“Hindi ko alam paano ito ta-take pero alam ko sa sarili ko na binigay ito sakin ni Lord and deserve ko ito. Hindi ako nakatulog, dalawang araw ako hindi pinatulog pero sobrang worth it,” said Yulo.
Yulo’s journey, however, was not without considerable challenges.
In the previous year, the 24-year-old Pinoy gymnast ended his long-standing partnership with his coach, Munehiro Kugiyama, as he intensified his preparations for the Olympics. He also faced several personal issues on his path to Paris 2024.
Add to that, the pressure of doing well in this year’s Olympics after his poor performance in Tokyo three years ago.
“Hindi ko alam 'yung emotions eh bumubuhos talaga kaya nung nalaman ko na nakuha ko 'yung gold, naiyak na talaga ako,” Yulo explained. “Nakita ko 'yung pag-subok bago ako makapunta dito, sobrang hindi ko akalain na kaya ko 'yung ganitong resulta at performance.”
But after all his challenges and difficulties, Yulo can officially call himself the “golden boy.”
“Hindi 'yun 'yung perfect competition pero ito 'yung perfect moment para sa akin. Grabe, sobrang nakaka-overwhelm 'yung ganitong experience,” said Yulo.
“Palagi kong sinasabi experience, experience which is wala namang problema doon pero ito 'yung experience na tatatak talaga sa puso ko and siyempre sa buong Pilipinas,” he ended.
Yulo will have another shot at an Olympic medal when he competes in the vault finals on August 4.
(With reports from Boom Gonzalez/Cignal TV, One Sports)