Ultimate Redemption: The Filipino Olympic Athlete Who Just Won The Country’s 2nd Ever Gold Medal
Many would be surprised to learn that countries are still experiencing firsts regarding the Olympics. For example, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei took home the country’s first gold medal in the 10,000m race, the country’s fifth overall.
The Philippines is also experiencing firsts, winning its first-ever gold medal during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo captured the gold in the 55kg weightlifting category, a huge source of pride for the country.
Now, in 2024, the Philippines has gotten its second-ever gold medal.
The men’s floor exercise event occurred on August 3, with eight men from 7 countries competing after qualifying.
Carlos Yulo of the Philippines was ranked second after the qualifying round, 0.2 points behind the athlete who ranked first. 24-year-old Yulo has been participating in gymnastics since he was seven and has already made history as the first Filipino to both medal and win a gold medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
He also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he fell during the qualifying round of the floor exercises and did not make the finals. The one event he did qualify for was the vault, where he finished in 4th, missing the podium by 0.017 points.
During the 2024 Olympics, Yulo, known for his difficult routines, pulled off his performance perfectly, scoring a 15.000. This placed him above the previous winner Artem Dolgopyat of Team Israel, who scored 14.966.
Yulo’s massive win makes him the first male representing the Philippines to win a gold medal, and the second person overall. He is also the first to medal in any gymnastics event representing the Philippines.
Yulo still has to compete in the mens’ vault final which takes place on August 4.
Congratulations to Yulo and the Philippines!
