Gymnast Carlos Yulo just scored his and the Philippines’ first and second gold medals in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and we’re all cheering and crying right there with him.
Related: Here Are All The Filipino Athletes Competing At The 2024 Paris Olympics
Did anyone have any doubt? Artistic gymnast, Olympic athlete, and all around king Carlos Yulo just made history by winning back-to-back gold medals in the men’s gymnastics floor exercise event final and the men’s vault final at the Paris 2024 Olympics!
Carlos Yulo secures Philippines first GOLD medal at #Paris2024! 🇵🇭🥇 pic.twitter.com/naCxfMpDMw
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 3, 2024
After his historic first gold medal win, Carlos once again got the nation rising to its feet as he scores his second just a day later, making him the most decorated Filipino Olympian at the 2024 Olympics and one of the most decorated Filipino athletes of all time. Carlos Yulo is the first Filipino to win two Olympic gold medals—can you say king?
HE'S DONE IT AGAIN! 🇵🇭
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 4, 2024
Carlos Yulo is a two-time Olympic champion! Two golds in two days! 🥇🥇 pic.twitter.com/iZHuQrDv2o
The 24-year old athlete is no stranger to the Olympics, much less international gymnastic championships, having competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He entered those Summer Games hoping to win gold in the artistic gymnastics competitions, but, unfortunately, fell short of reaching those dreams.
But Carlos returns with a vengeance this year, armed with all he’s learned from his first stint at the Games and a determination to succeed with his best. And succeed he did, because the gymnast just won himself two coveted gold medals in a row!
A COMEBACK
GOLD FOR THE PHILIPPINES! 🇵🇭
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 3, 2024
Carlos Edriel Yulo shines, earning #gold for the Philippines in artistic gymnastics men's floor exercise. 🤸
He's the first-ever filipino man to win an Olympic gold in any sport, and this is the Philippines' first medal of #Paris2024! 🎉… pic.twitter.com/U2KczOLW9D
Carlos qualified for Paris 2024 by being the top ranking athlete at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, despite not earning a medal.
This year, after a few falls and scares (on our part as the audience as well) and setbacks, particularly with his fall at the pommel horse competition earlier in the Games, Carlos came back to the men’s floor in a huge way. With laser focus and unstoppable drive, the gymnast jumped, tumbled, and landed his way to a 15-point performance, eventually being deemed the overall gold medalist for the event. He bagged gold after competing against Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat from Israel (who took home silver) and 2023 World Champion Jake Jarman from Great Britain (who took home bronze).
WINNING REACTION OF CARLOS YULO!! VAULT FINALS CHAMPION
— Aries (@_buenosaries) August 4, 2024
Another Gold for the Philippines! HISTORY IS MADE AGAIN! ANG GALING GALING MO!! #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/NGDXbcVFcX
The athlete fell to the mats and broke down into tears upon receiving news of his first win—and everyone has been cheering and crying along with him. On his second, the athlete was even more overjoyed despite his clear disbelief.
With Carlos earning the Philippines’ second and third gold medals ever after Hidilyn Diaz won the first at the women’s weightlifting event at Tokyo 2020, his wins are yet another reminder of how Filipinos are becoming more and more of a force in the Olympic and overall athletics scene. And bonus points for the Great Britain’s Jake Jarman being half-Filipino (his mother is from Cebu), technically making it two Filipinos on that podium.
ITS OFFICIAL!!!! Carlos Yulo won the #Gold medal once again for the Philippines on the Men's Vault Finals.
— ed (@edqcyt) August 4, 2024
This is the first time for Team Philippines to win 2 consecutive Golds ever in the Olympics. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/FF0pT4Grf8
On the vault, his final event of the Games, the “Golden Boy” once again earned himself a whopping 15.116 points—the only gymnast to earn a whole score of 15 in that event—which solidified his shot at yet another gold medal. While Carlos took home gold, Artur Davtyan from Armenia took home silver, and Harry Hepwort finished with bronze.
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
iba yung kilabot marinig ang national anthem natin sa Olympics. CONGRATS, CARLOS YULO!!!! 🇵🇭😭#Olympics pic.twitter.com/xPaOuZryAK
— ⚡️ (@OFFDWALL_) August 3, 2024
Although Carlos is a six-time podium finisher at the gymnastics World Championships, the Olympics is a different game—literally. His back-to-back achievement is truly historical.
Carlos’ wins no doubt means so much more to the athlete than can ever be expressed. On our end though, it’s great to see how our Filipino athletes are excelling in sports that are, frankly, under-appreciated by the nation. From winning at women’s weightlifting to competing at sports like rowing and fencing, Filipino athletes have been doing nothing less than making everybody proud.
Over the years, more and more eyes have turned to Carlos Yulo for his skills and achievements, making him one of the most popular Filipino athletes—along, of course, with being the most decorated and successful gymnast in Philippine history.
Congratulations, Caloy! The nation’s Golden Boy, indeed.
Continue Reading: 5 Ways You Can Support Team Philippines At The 2024 Paris Olympics
