Certainly a no-brainer: Carlos Yulo is PSA Athlete of Year
Carlos Yulo celebrates after a dominant show in the floor exercise in Paris. –AFP
Sportswriters didn’t have to think this one out.
After winning two gold medals in the Paris Olympics last year, Carlos Yulo was the no-brainer choice as the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s (PSA) Athlete of the Year, an overwhelming choice whom the scribes will fete in their Awards Night set for Jan. 27 at Manila Hotel.
Article continues after this advertisement“From a great Olympic performance to an even greater Olympic show, and from one big breakthrough to an even bigger breakthrough–thanks to Carlos Yulo whose giant feat we will celebrate in handling him our highest accolades,” said PSA president Nelson Beltran, the sports editor of The Philippine Star.
READ: Carlos Yulo double Olympics gold leads PH sports’ greatest year
The Manila native ruled the floor exercise of the men’s artistic gymnastics and the vault, becoming just the second Filipino to win a Games gold after weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo but the first to win two in a single Olympics.
Article continues after this advertisementJust second gymnast
Yulo became the first gymnast since young Pia Adelle Reyes in 1997 to be recognized as Athlete of the Year by the country’s oldest media organization on its traditional gala night backed by San Miguel Corp. and copresented by ArenaPlus, Cignal and MediaQuest.
READ; Yearend 2024: Carlos Yulo and golden year for Philippine Sports
The NSA of the Year, Major Awardees in other sports, the President’s Award, Executive of the Year, Citations, Tony Siddayao Awards, as well as the Hall of Fame and Special Recognition to Filipino Olympians—the Paris Olympics and Paralympics included—will be handed out in the event recognizing the best in Philippines sports for the year 2024.
After a disappointing finish in the floor exercise in the Tokyo Games, his first Olympics experience, Yulo emerged on top of his pet event by compiling a scoring total of 15.000 points, beating reigning champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel (14.966) for the Philippines’ first gold in Paris.
READ; Carlos Yulo all business after break
The euphoria of becoming the first Filipino gymnast to win an Olympic gold didn’t even die down when Yulo added another mint to his collection by ruling the men’s vault final with a 15.116 total to win over Artur Davtyan of Armenia (14.966).
Not only will he be recognized as 2024’s finest by the PSA, but the golden double in the glitzy French capital has Yulo included in conversation of being the best Filipino athlete of all time.
