Carlos Yulo, a 24-year-old gymnast originally from Manila and now residing in Tokyo, has won two gold medals in the men’s floor exercise and men’s vaulting. In recognition of these remarkable achievements, the Philippines government were proud to gift him a free house, a fully furnished two-bedroom condo, a generous cash prize, and lifetime supply of various perks, including free ramen, buffets, colonoscopies, and engineering design by Nexa Engineering. According to NBC Olympics, these generous incentives apply to all prospective gold medalists who represent the Philippines at the Olympic Games, reflecting how rare such victories are for the country. This kind of recognition is a life-changing, particularly for those living in the Philippines.
As stated by the New York Post, he even got upgraded from a two-bedroom condo to a three-bedroom one after winning the second gold medal this past Sunday evening, which shows gratitude from the government of the Philippines. Yulo’s success has not only brought pride to his country but also highlights his extraordinary talent. Let’s find out more about this Filipino champion!
Born in Manila, he is the first Filipino and the first male Southeast Asian gymnast to win a medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, securing a bronze in the floor exercise in 2018. He followed this up with a historic gold medal in 2019 at the same event, an incredible achievement for such a young athlete. In 2022, he was awarded the MVP award as “Best Gymnast of the Year” by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.
Yulo’s journey in gymnastics began in his hometown Malate, Manila, from watching Filipino gymnasts training and competing at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. His talent was first noticed by his grandfather, who, after seeing him tumbling at a local playground, took him to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines for training; and that’s where it all started.
As a former competitive athlete who was born in the Philippines but now lives in the United States, I can relate to the feeling of how thrilling and astonishing winning a gold medal at an Olympic Games must be, while representing your country. Although I’m a Filipino American, I will always be supporting the athletes of my hometown country. Go Philippines!
