At the Paris Olympics, Team Philippines’s two-time gold medal-winning gymnast Carlos Yulo created a wave of Filipino pride. The 24-year-old became the first male athlete in Philippine history to earn gold medals when he won the men’s floor and vault competitions.
Yulo’s rise in global gymnastics
Yulo first made history by defeating Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat, the previous floor champion, to win a gold medal for the Philippines. The following day, he defeated Artur Davtyan of Armenia and Harry Hepworth of Great Britain in the vault to win his second gold medal.
Yulo’s victories made him the second person from the Philippines to win individual gold medals following weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who took first place in the women’s 55kg event in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Diaz herself congratulated Yulo on social media by stating: “Ipinagmamalaki kita hindi lang sa mga medalya mo kundi dahil sa hirap na pinagdaanan mo para makamit ang tagumpay , para sa sarili at higit pang lalo , para sa bayan.” (“I am proud of you, not only because of your medals but because of the hard work you went through to achieve success, for yourself and, especially, for the country”)
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Given the lack of resources in the Philippines, James Zarsadiaz, head of the University of San Francisco’s Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program, told NBC News that Yulo’s victories are especially noteworthy. He said: “The countries that medal the most are the ones who have the most wealth, and their citizens have the most money and resources and networks… It’s also not seen as much of a priority … For a lot of people in countries like the Philippines, it’s about survival. And to engage in something like competing for the Olympics is a complete indulgence.”
He added that Yulo’s win destroys the stereotype that Asian men are weak. Zarsadiaz remarked: “A lot of Filipino and a lot of Asian men in general are often seen as not as strong and ‘masculine’ compared to other cultures… This proves that Asian men have just as much prowess to compete in something like this and come out on top.”
Source: NBC News