Carlo Yulo’s rise to world champion started with a simple dream

Carlos Yulo with his mother Angelica during a visit at the Manila City Hall. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Carlos Yulo went home a sports hero after being the first Filipino Gymnast to become a world champion.

Yulo’s reaped countless praises and monetary compensations for his gold medal-winning performance in the gymnastics worlds, but the 4-foot-10 dynamo and his family just started with a simple dreams.

Yulo’s mother Angelica said their family just wanted her son to get a degree with a sports scholarship.

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“We did not expect he would reach this level because our main dream was just to see him finish college with a sports scholarship,” said Angelica in Filipino during Yulo’s courtesy call with Manila mayor Isko Moreno Thursday at Manila City Hall.

“I didn’t know that this would be in his track,” she added.

Yulo, though, said that he’s still adjusting to his newfound success and media acclaim.

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Ever since coming back to the Philippines in the early part of the week, Yulo has been one of the hottest names in the country with media and public appearances filling up his calendar.

“At first I’m not used to this kind of treatment that there’s always a camera following me,” said Yulo with a smile in Filipino. “I’m slowly getting the feel of it and it’s quite tiring.”

Nevertheless, Yulo is determined to put on a show in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but he first has to represent the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games in November.

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Yulo already qualified for the Olympics after advancing to the finals of the World Championships but he’s not the one to rest on his laurels.

“My preparation would be tripled,” said Yulo. “The Olympics is next for me but there’s still the SEA Games so I will use all this experience to carry me forward.”