AFTER a successful campaign in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Carlos Yulo, a two-time gold medalist in artistic gymnastics, is expected to be named Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA).
There is no doubt that Yulo is the deserved Athlete of the Year for this year’s Awards Night, which will be hosted on January 27, 2025, at the Manila Hotel, following his outstanding performance in 2024.
History Maker
The 4-foot-11 gymnastics sensation won the men’s floor exercise and vault, leading the Philippines to an impressive finish, while also becoming the first Filipino athlete to win two gold medals in a single Olympics appearance.
Meanwhile, Yulo will become the first gymnast since Pia Adelle Reyes, who received her award in 1997, to be named as an Athlete of the Year by the oldest media organization and its annual gala night.
“From a great Olympic performance to an even greater Olympic show, and from one big breakthrough to an even bigger breakthrough – thanks to Carlos Yulo,” said PSA President Nelson Beltran.
“Whose giant feat we will celebrate in handling him our highest accolades,” said the sports editor of The Philippine Star, of recognizing the Filipino gymnast with the highest individual honor.
The Sweet Journey
Hidilyn Diaz, a Filipina weightlifter who won the Philippines’ first gold medal in the quadrennial athletic event, dominated the women’s 55kg weight class in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Behind her was an aspiring Yulo in his first Olympics, who came up just short of a podium finish in the men’s vault, the only final apparatus for which he qualified. However, this served as fuel for his second stint.
After a dismaying performance in the Tokyo Games with his favorite apparatus, the floor exercise, Yulo won last year’s final with a total of 15.000 points, defeating Israeli Artem Dolgopyat in Paris.
Just hours after earning his first gold medal, which barely registered, and being the first Filipino gymnast to win an Olympic gold, he added another gold in the vault final with a total score of 15.116.
Yulo, with his stunning performance and years left for him to compete, will surely go down in Philippine sports history as one of the best Filipino athletes, having finished his second stint with an outstanding performance.
Other Awards
In addition to the Athlete of the Year honor, several other awards will be given out during the ceremonial presentation. Some of them include the NSA of the Year, Major Awardees in other sports, and the President’s Award.
Along with this, the Executive of the Year, Citations, Tony Siddayao Awards, Hall of Fame, and Special Recognition to Filipino Olympians, including those who competed in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, will be presented.
