By Atty. Howie Calleja
Carlos Yulo’s double gold-medal finish has given the Philippines the opportunity to moved up 10 places overnight from 31st to 21st of 184 teams in the medal rankings at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday. This goes to show how the victory of one person can bring “our standing” up par with the international community.
The Philippines is guaranteed of at least two more bronze medals after Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas’ excellent showing in women’s boxing. EJ Obiena is also keeping the medal hopes alive in the men’s pole vault event. Lest we forget we still have possible medals in weightlifting and golf. These additional victories will hopefully improve our medal standing as well in this Paris Olympic Summer games which will end this Sunday, August 11.
Yulo’s historic 2nd Gold medal comes a day after winning gold in the floor exercise for the Philippines’ first medal of the Olympic Games. With his milestone win in vault, Yulo has guaranteed that the country will improve upon its performance in Tokyo in 2021, when acclaimed weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz brought home the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal.
These Olympic achievements show and prove that we can excel in other sports and not always put all our money into basketball. I know fully well that we love basketball but it’s about time we put more money and emphasis into other sports where we really have a chance in 2028 which is still 4 years away; and our performance here should inspire us to go beyond our limits. Carlos Yulo is still young and is still good for 2028 — and so do our other three beautiful lady gymnasts, Emma, Levi and Aleah, who fought with heart. So, let’s see this victory to excel more in other sports and hope we can be champions.
As a “diamond in the rough”, Yulo’s grassroots origins from being discovered in the Palarong Pambansa is a living testament that greatness starts from humble beginnings — and all you need is the determination to do so. With 2 Gold medals Yulo has now surpassed the exclusive club of multiple Olympic medalists from the Philippines that including swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.
So besides the fully furnished condominium , various cash incentives from government and private sector of at least 20 million in cash and the 3 million in cash from the country’s House of Representatives; Carlos has won the countless “millions” of Filipino hearts now calling him the GOLDEN BOY of Philippine Sports. Surely the story and journey of Carlos Yulo will be told many times and in many ways but one thing is certain the journey and the dream for Gold is now a fairy tale come alive ! Kudos Carlos Yulo, Mabuhay!
