10 Key Moments that brought Carlos Yulo from the practice floor to the podium
Written By Niko Del Rey
I’m sure the headlines have flooded all of your social media feeds by now but if you haven’t heard the news, 24 year-old Carlos Yulo is the new champion of the Philippines! Yulo has just competed in his first Olympics this past week and struck gold not just once but TWICE! Bringing the total count of gold medals in the history of the Philippines to 3, which of course includes the monumental 1st gold medal won by weightlifting champion, Hildilyn Diaz, in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Although we know about his 2 gold wins, Yulo’s success wasn’t by chance or quick overnight success, this trip to the winner’s circle has been years in the making. So let’s dive into 10 key moments in Carlo’s Yulo’s career that took him from the practice floor to the podium.
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.
1. Carlos Yulo, from Manila, Philippines, started training to be a gymnast at 7 years old when his grandfather Rodrigo Frisco, saw him tumbling at a young age and brought him to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) to begin his gymnastics career.
2. In 2017 Yulo relocated to Tokyo, Japan, to train with coach Munehiro Kugimiya as part of an offer from the Japan Gymnastics association, a move that was fully supported by GAP. The venture was also backed by the International Gymnastics Federation [FIG] and the International Olympic Committee [IOC] 'Olympic Solidarity' programme.
3. Under a scholarship program Yulo was able to continue his education at Teikyo University in Itabashi, Tokyo, and graduated in 2022 with an associates degree in literature.
4. In his junior year, Yulo won five medals at the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships, receiving gold on floor exercise and vault, silver on the still rings and parallel bars, and bronze in all around. However in 2017, days before the competing, Yulo twisted his left ankle while training. Yulo competed through the injury and was still to win gold in parallel bars. In that same year, Yulo injured his shoulder and could only compete on vault and floor exercise at the 2017 International Junior Competition where he received gold in vault and silver in the floor exercise final.
5. During his senior year in 2018, Yulo made his international debut participating in three competitions and receiving 3 medals (2 silvers, 1 bronze) all in the span of one month.
6. At the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Doha, Yulo advanced to the all-around and floor exercise finals, becoming the first Filipino gymnast to qualify for a World Championships final. He finished with bronze in the floor exercise, making Yulo the first Filipino AND the first male Southeast Asian gymnast to earn a medal at the World Championships.
7. In 2019 Yulo competed in the World Championships at Stuttgart, earning gold in the floor exercise final, making history as the first Filipino and Southeast Asian world champion in artistic gymnastics. But that wasn’t the end of Yulo’s accomplishments that year, he later goes on to compete in the Southeast Asian Games and medaled in every event. He received gold in the all-around and floor exercise, and silver in the pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar.
8. In 2021 once gymnastic competitions resumed after the pandemic, Yulo made is debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics, becoming the younger competitor at the final vault where he finished fourth place, missing the bronze medal by 0.017 points. Shortly after the Olympics, Yulo returned to the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu where he took home gold in the vault final and silver in the parallel bars.
9. After a disagreement with his longtime coach, Munehiro Kugimiya, over the decision to breakup with Yulo’s girlfriend, Chloe San Jose, the duo parted ways making 2023 a rough year for Yulo’s career. Yulo returned to the 2023 World Championships looking lost and even falling on his back during his rings dismount, finishing the tournament in 52nd place, the worst finish in his life. But committing to training without a coach, Yulo found peace in Manila with his girlfriend and shifted his focus to 2024 and the Paris Olympics by traveling the world and training with the best athletes.
10. And we all know how that paid off, Yulo returned to the winner’s circle with a gold medal on the parallel bars and a silver medal on the vault at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, building his confidence as a self coached athlete. It also helps that he received a bronze at the Baku World Cup and 3 more golds at the Asian Championships. And of course, we know how he carried that momentum going into the 2024 Paris Olympics, taking home gold in the men’s floor exercise, making him the first Filipino gymnast and the second Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal. Only to follow up that performance the next day with a gold in the vault event, making the first time the Philippines has had a multiple Olympic Champion.
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