“DOUBLE GOLD! Carlos Yulo is Olympic vault champion!”

PHILIPPINES’ CARLOS YULO STRIKES GOLD AGAIN, CLAIMING VAULT TITLE!

This, as Carlos Yulo rewrote the country’s sporting history once more by winning another gold medal, this time in the vault finals of men’s artistic gymnastics.

“The Golden Boy” has thoroughly lived up to his reputation as he is set to leave Paris with two golds after another sensational performance at the Bercy Arena on Sunday night.

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His triumph comes a day after winning gold in the floor exercise for the Philippines’ first medal of the Summer Games. With his victory in vault, Yulo has ensured that the country will improve upon its performance in Tokyo in 2021, when iconic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz brought home the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal.

The dynamic Filipino gymnast scored a 15.116 for his two vaults in the finals, where he upped the difficulty level of his first attempt. 

A former world champion in the apparatus, Yulo first performed a Ri Se Gwang for a score of 15.433, and then a Kasamatsu double twist for a score of 14.800.

He overtook Great Britain’s Harry Hepworth, who performed second and got a 14.949.

Great Britain’s Jake Jarman was in third place with his 14.933 until the last gymnast — Artur Davtyan of Armenia, whose clean executions of his two vaults got a score of 14.966. He secured the silver and relegated Hepworth to the bronze.

But the day belonged to Yulo, who became just the fourth Filipino athlete to win multiple Olympic medals. He joined swimmer Teófilo Yldefonso, who won bronzes in 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles; Diaz, who was a silver medalist in Rio before her golden breakthrough in Tokyo; and boxer Nesthy Petecio, who is assured of at least a bronze in Paris after having won silver in Tokyo 2020.

He is the first Filipino athlete to win multiple medals in a single Olympics, and the first to win two gold medals.

— Sleepless night — 

The “Golden Boy” delivered the Philippines’ first gold medal in the Paris Olympics on Saturday night, after a stunning performance in the floor exercise.

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READ: Carlos Yulo reigns in floor exercise for Philippines’ first gold

Yulo later told reporters that he could not sleep the night before after winning floor exercise gold.

“It’s crazy because last night I couldn’t sleep. I was so hyped because I had won that gold medal on floor,” he said. “It still didn’t sink in. This morning I was so sleepy, I didn’t know what to do.”

“I was just hoping to perform well (today). I didn’t really expect a medal. It really felt like a bonus for me,” added Yulo, who has tripled the Philippines’ gold medal tally in the Olympics in the span of two days.

“I slept in the bus, I slept after the podium training. I slept before going to the competition area. I kind of was napping for 15 to 20 minutes. I felt good after that and I just went for it.”

Davtyan was left with a bittersweet taste after going so close to gold.

“I am a little bit disappointed because I wanted the gold medal. But I have the silver, I’m glad for that” he said.

Hepworth meanwhile disclosed he was planning an extravagant evening’s entertainment to mark his bronze.

“I will have a full pizza in the Olympic Village. That’s how I will celebrate” he laughed.

Yulo had placed sixth in the qualification for the vault, with a score of 14.683.

The Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo reacts as he celebrates during the podium ceremony competes in the artistic gymnastics men’s floor exercise final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 3, 2024. Paul Ellis, AFP

In his moment of triumph, Carlos Yulo couldn’t help but remember the challenges that he endured and hurdled. 

Dubbed the “Golden Boy,” Yulo had already won medals for the Philippines in several international competitions — including the world championships. But a medal in the Olympics has eluded him; he famously struggled in the Tokyo Games, failing to qualify to the finals of the floor exercise before salvaging a fourth place finish in the vault. Three years on, Yulo has completed his redemption: the Filipino dynamo emerged as the gold medalist in the floor exercise in the Paris Olympics, executing his difficult routine near-flawlessly for a score of 15.000.

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He sobbed when his victory was confirmed, weeping openly in front of the cameras even as — half a world away — his countrymen celebrated his milestone.

READ: Carlos Yulo reigns in floor exercise for Philippines’ first gold

“Bumuhos po talaga ‘yung luha ko, hindi ko na napigilan,” Yulo told reporters after the medal ceremony at the Bercy Arena on Saturday night. “Kahit sobrang panget ng mukha ko sa screen, wala na akong pakialam po. Sobrang saya ko po.”

Yulo’s gold medal is the Philippines’ first at the Paris Olympics, and only the second gold in the country’s history. The first, of course, came from iconic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who immediately celebrated Yulo’s feat on Instagram. 

There were congratulations all over social media, with Filipinos hailing Yulo’s history-making moment. He was commended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who said: “The entire country stands proud with you.”

Yet amid his elation, Yulo said that what went through his mind was the long and difficult road that led to Olympic gold.

“Naalala ko lahat ng mga pagsubok ko sa buhay,” he said. 

“Sobrang pasalamat po sa Panginoon na hindi niya ako pinabayaan, sa lahat ng mga challenges na binigay niya, nagpapasalamat ako. Hinubog at pinalakas Niya ako,” he also said.

He expressed his gratitude to Cynthia Carrion, the head of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, and to his girlfriend, Chloe Anjeleigh San Jose, for their unending support. He was effusive in his thanks to the Filipino people, knowing that they stayed up late to watch him in qualifying. He was grateful for those who helped him in his journey.

And Yulo made it clear that he is also proud of himself, for the strength he showed throughout the whole process. The road to Paris had not been smooth — Yulo memorably parted ways with his longtime coach, Munehiro Kugimiya, and there is reportedly a “rift” between him and some members of his family.

Yet he stood tall in the end — the first male athlete from the Philippines to win Olympic gold.

“Sa sarili ko din, hindi ako sumuko. Hindi ako nagpatinag sa mga challenges,” Yulo said. “Nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay Lord na pina-experience niya sa akin ‘yung ganitong buhay, and ‘yung ganitong opportunity na makapaglaro sa ganito kalaking competition.”

“Nag-back track talaga ‘yung mga hard work ko talaga kanina, kaya hindi ko na napigilan umiyak,” he added. “Akala ko, hindi ako magiging emotional, pero sobrang hirap pigilan. In-all out ko na talaga today.”

There will be little time for Yulo to celebrate: he returns to action tomorrow evening, this time on the vault final, where he hopes to write even more history.

“Medyo nabawasan naman din po ‘yung stress sa utak ko po. And siyempre, kailangan ko pa rin po mag-focus kasi mabigat pa rin po ‘yung vault,” says Yulo, who was world champion on vault in 2021. “Gusto ko pa rin i-take ‘yun na opportunity na makapag-uwi po ng another medal.” — with a report from Dyan Castillejo, POC Media/ABS-CBN News

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