Carlos Yulo opens door for national athletes to chase more Olympic glory

Carlos Yulo, of the Philippines, celebrates after winning the gold medal during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual vault finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

No longer a country thirsting for its first Olympic gold medal, the Philippines is looking to stretch its gold run when the Games flies its torch to Los Angeles in the United States in 2028.

Carlos Yulo won two gold medals recently in Paris, adding to the historic gold won by Hidilyn Diaz (now Diaz-Naranjo) in Tokyo three years ago.

And the overflow of bonuses that will come his way will not distract him from what he still wants to do.

“I don’t know much yet,” Yulo told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview at Adidas House Paris. “I heard I’ll be getting a lot of prizes, but maybe I’m more focused on the next cycle of the Olympics.”

Yulo said he is definitely going to make a run for the LA Games, where he is looking to defend the floor exercise and vault golds that he won in dominating fashion at Bercy Arena in Paris.

“It will be a greater experience for me because I want to defend that title that I won [here] in the next cycle and show everyone that I’m worthy of a gold medal in all my performances in my competitions,” Yulo said.

And the country is expected to back that run.

“Maybe gymnastics will be more prioritized now. We expect to gain more support for us [in gymnastics],” said gymnastics coach Allen Castañeda, Yulo’s coach, recently during a toast for the Olympians held at Newport World Resorts.

Shoot for more glory

And it’s not just Yulo who is expected to make a run for medals in Los Angeles.

EJ Obiena, who finished a fighting fourth place in pole vault, wants to regain his stature as among the world’s best in his sport and has started working his way back to peak form.

“I will be back,” Obiena wrote on his social media account after he failed to crack the 5.95-meter bar in three tries. “I have been knocked down. But I will get back up.”

And two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio, who won a silver in Tokyo and a bronze in Paris, said the rejuvenated support for national athletes should be a signal for them to shoot for Olympic glory.

“I experienced the joy and frustration of being an athlete for the past 17 years, but this is the best time for us with the support that we are receiving,’’ said Petecio, one of the leaders of the Philippine Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission in Filipino.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently guaranteed first-rate backing for the national athletes with high aspirations of generating more medalists.

Yulo will take advantage of that support, along with brother Eldrew, who is hoping to make it a sibling act in the 2028 Games.

Surging popularity

For now, Carlos will enjoy the bonuses he received for his feat—and his surging popularity.

“I prefer a quiet life, honestly, but I can’t avoid people recognizing me because of the honor I was able to bring to our country,” he said. “It’s really part of the deal that a lot of people will notice me. It’s still a blessing in my life, so I’m still very thankful and grateful.”

Diaz gave Yulo a heads-up on what to expect now that he is the new toast of Philippine sports.

“She said, ‘Goodluck!’” Yulo recounted. “To stay strong, not to worry, just to keep focusing on myself. The advice I got from her, I’ll keep that in my mind.”

Yulo got a taste of that popularity during a recent parade held in honor of the Olympians.

One thing that could impact the country’s bid for more Games glory is the International Olympic Committee’s decision to scrub boxing out of the Los Angeles calendar.

But the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (Abap) is helping out to reinstate the sport back in the Olympic schedule.

Federation secretary general Marcus Manalo said the Abap is part of an international association called World Boxing looking to get the IOC’s blessings so it will allow boxing back into the Games.

“The [Abap] is already a member of this and we are represented by Abap chairman Ricky Vargas in the executive board,” Manalo told the Inquirer.