Carlos Yulo Earns Second Gold Medal at Paris Olympics 2024

Carlos Yulo of the Philippines has captured his second gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, further cementing his place in gymnastics history. Just a day after winning gold in the men’s floor exercise, Yulo triumphed in the men’s vault finals, held at France’s Bercy Arena on Sunday night (Philippine time).

Yulo’s performance during the individual vault competition was nothing short of spectacular. In a stunning display of athletic prowess, Yulo earned a total score of 15.116 (after getting a score of 15.433 in Vault 1 and 14.800 in Vault 2).

This makes Yulo the first male Olympic gold medalist in the history of the Philippines, and only the country’s second Olympic champion.

The Pinoy gymnast edged out Armenia’s Artur Davtyan, who earned the silver with a score of 14.966, and Great Britain’s Harry Hepworth, who finished with a bronze score of 14.949. This remarkable feat marks Yulo as the first Filipino gymnast to secure multiple Olympic gold medals, adding to his floor exercise victory that made history for the country just a day prior.

The 24-year-old Manila native’s success has not only elevated the Philippines’ standing in the global gymnastics arena but also brought substantial rewards. In addition to a fully furnished two-bedroom condo valued at approximately $415,000, Yulo will receive P10 million Philippine pesos (~$173,000 USD) from the Philippine Sports Commission, P3 million pesos (~$52,000 USD) from the House of Representatives, and various other prizes, including a lifetime supply of ramen and free meals from local establishments.

Standing on the podium with tears of joy, Yulo’s emotional reaction underscored the significance of his victories. “I’m so overwhelmed. I’m feeling grateful for having this medal and for God. He protected me, as always,” Yulo was quoted as saying in an article published by NBC. His floor exercise performance, which included a flawless three-and-a-half twist dismount, had already captured hearts and set the stage for his vault triumph.

In the vault finals, Yulo’s routine demonstrated his exceptional skill and consistency. His performance stood out against a competitive field, which included Great Britain’s Jake Jarman, who, despite a high level of difficulty in his routine, fell short of Yulo’s flawless execution.

Yulo’s triumphs have set a new benchmark in Filipino sports, following Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s historic gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Diaz claimed the Philippines’ first-ever gold by dominating the women’s 55-kg event.

Yulo’s triumph means this is only the second gold medal in the country’s 100 years of participation in the Olympics. It is interesting to note that Yulo became coachless in September 2023 and had been traveling around the world in order to train with other delegations such as Great Britain and South Korea.

As the Paris Games continue, Carlos Yulo’s remarkable achievements will be remembered as a defining moment for both his career and the nation’s sports history.

Read: Who are the Filipino Athletes Still Competing in Paris Olympics 2024?