Our golden boy Carlos Yulo had his fair share of ups and downs leading to this historic moment. But he made it work, and we can all learn a thing or two from it.
Related: Carlos Yulo Gave His All For Two Gold Medals For The Philippines At The 2024 Paris Olympics
By now, you’ve probably heard of Carlos Yulo’s historic wins in the men’s gymnastics floor exercise event final and the men’s vault final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. If there was any doubt the 24-year-old athlete was the best gymnast in the Philippines, his two gold medals at Paris 2024 proved the naysayers wrong. It’s a moment that has, is, and will continue reverberating across the Philippines. The fact that he won his gold medals within 24 hours makes the feat even better.
Yet, for people who know Carlos’ story, his journey to greatness wasn’t easy. On the Gen Z athlete’s path to Olympic glory were setbacks, sacrifices, and spills, but also triumphs fitting of an athlete of Carlos’ caliber. It’s a journey many, even those who don’t play sports, can learn from, some of which we listed below.
YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE
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It needs to be said how impactful it can be to have even just one person believe in you. Having someone there to cheer you on can make a world of difference. Just take a look at Carlos. Despite the challenges he has faced professionally and personally, the 24-year-old gymnast still has a core group of supporters and coaches who have stood by him during his highs and lows.
The pressure is real, but Carlos has people he can lean on for a boost. And now that he’s a two-time Olympic gold medal-winning athlete, we have a feeling the Carlos Yulo fan club has grown exponentially. So, remember that you are not alone on your journey as there will be people out there to support you, whether it be your biological family, found family, or anything in between.
YOUR TIME WILL COME
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Carlos Yulo’s journey to Olympic gold has been a long time coming. During his Olympic debut at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, many tipped him to get a podium finish. But sadly, he stumbled on the mat and finished 4th in the vault exercise final, barely missing the bronze. It was a heartbreaking ending, but that didn’t stop Carlos from pursuing his dreams.
The idea of having to wait for three years for another try can leave many disheartened. Yet, with his tenacity, grit, and determination, Carlos used the time to train even harder and came to Paris in fine form, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Despite a few falls and setbacks, such as leaving his long-time Japanese coach in 2023 and his fall at the pommel horse, Carlos achieved his goal and bagged two gold medals. Tokyo was just the start as Paris was the main event in a poignant reminder that, in the end, what is meant for you will always find you.
IT PAYS TO DO AND BE SUPPORTED IN WHAT YOU LOVE AT A YOUNG AGE
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Carlos Yulo has been at this for over 17 years now. He started gymnastics in 2007 and began training when he was just seven years old. From there, Carlos honed himself into the athlete he was meant to be. And while you could say the Gen Z gymnast always had talent, his long journey to the Olympic podium also shows the impact of nurturing talent at a young age.
After all, it’s one thing to be talented, but it’s another thing for that talent to be cared for in a proper and supportive environment. This is especially true for parents who play a key role in encouraging and helping their kids pursue their passions, whatever that may be. Never underestimate the power of kids being encouraged and supported by their families and the powers that be to do what they love, irregardless of what sport or hobby it may be. We’d have even more athletes like Carlos Yulo in this world if that was the case.
SPORTS SHOULDN’T BE BASED ON GENDER STEREOTYPES
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In case you haven’t noticed yet, our gold medals at the Olympics, so far, come from Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting and Carlos Yulo in gymnastics. Weightlifting is often associated with men while gymnastics is seen as a women’s sport yet the Philippine athletes who have excelled in those fields are of the opposite gender.
Add to that the medals Filipina boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas are set to take home at boxing from Paris, it’s another reminder that the sports you play should not be determined by gender stereotypes and norms. This holds especially true in the Philippines where toxic masculinity impacts how society determines what sports boys and girls should play. Let’s not limit ourselves or dissuade others from trying certain sports just because it’s a “man’s sport” or a “woman’s sport”.
SPORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES DESERVE MORE SUPPORT
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While Carlos Yulo’s double gold at the Olympics is an immense moment of pride, it is yet another example of how we have so much Filipino talent in many sports, but they rarely get the government support they deserve. Sure, cheer on our basketball and volleyball teams, but not at the expense of the dozens of talented Pinoy athletes in sports who only get a fraction of the attention and money. Despite government neglect, lack of investment in sports programs, and corruption in national sports organizations, Carlos Yulo, along with the other Filipino athletes at the Paris Olympics, have been punching above their weight to bring honor to the country and fulfill their dreams.
Fund Filipino athletes no matter what sport they are in. Let’s put the focus this time on sports that play to Filipinos’ strengths because, as we’ve seen, we can excel in those fields. Carlos Yulo did all that with the disinterest in gymnastics this country has, so imagine the kind of Filipino athletes that could come from proper training programs and facilities. The least they deserve is more private and public support like sponsorships, investments, and funding.
Continue Reading: 5 Ways You Can Support Team Philippines At The 2024 Paris Olympics
