WITH only a day having passed since Carlos Yulo etched his name into Philippine sports history by winning two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he is already setting his sights on even higher goals.
Just as they say, once you’ve tasted success, it’s difficult to pass up another wonderful opportunity. Yulo revealed on Monday that he hopes to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Photo Courtesy: International Gymnastics Federation | Facebook
“Yes po, yes po. Definitely, of course, 100% po,” says Yulo in an interview, who was just fresh from his stunning Olympic victory in the men’s artistic gymnastics during that time.
Over the weekend at the Bercy Arena, the 24-year-old Filipino star gymnast won gold medals in floor exercise and vault, both of which are his pet apparatuses.
In addition to being the most successful Filipino gymnast in history, he is the first Filipino athlete to win multiple medals in a single Olympics appearance, as well as the first to earn two gold medals in the Summer Games.
Yulo’s wish: Healthy years ahead
Meanwhile, despite assuring the Filipino community back home that this would not be his final time representing the Philippines at the Olympics, he is still praying for good health for his future voyage.
Photo Courtesy: International Gymnastics Federation | Facebook
“Wish ko lang this year also and hanggang mag-2028 na magandang health po talaga and super safe lang po. ‘Yun lang po talaga,” said Yulo.
Given that the Golden Boy is set to qualify for the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028, it will be his third Olympics attendance, and he has underlined the significance of maintaining excellent health.
Motivated by the Tokyo Olympics stint
Yulo made his debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he was found struggling. The gymnast failed to go to the floor exercise finals but finished fourth in the vault equipment.
When asked what drove him in the present Paris Games, he quickly mentioned his failure in Tokyo, which served as a major motivator in his golden campaign.
“Nag-fail sa Tokyo and pinalakas, ‘yung experience na ‘yun, pinalakas ako noon, and ito na ‘yung time ko. Binigay ko ‘yung buong puso ko. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na narinig niya ‘yung mga dasal ko,” he shared.
The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines hopes that Yulo will participate with a team in Los Angeles, having previously been the Philippines’ only male gymnast in Tokyo and Paris.
Emma Malabuyo, Levi Ruivivar, and Aleah Finnegan competed in women’s artistic gymnastics in Paris, making history as the first Filipina gymnasts to compete in the Olympics.
A well-deserved rest
Meanwhile, Yulo’s intention is to recover first following a hard Olympic cycle: “Wala din naman po akong competition as of now. Ito na po ‘yung pinakamalaking competition ko.”
“Naging stressful na rin po itong taon na ‘to. So focus muna din po sa sarili ko and i-align ko po ‘yung utak ko ulit, and make ng plans ulit for another Olympic cycle,” Yulo went on.
Meanwhile, the semifinals continue tomorrow, with Aira Villegas facing Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu at 4:18AM (PH Time), and Petecio facing Poland’s Julia Szeremeta at 3:46AM.
