POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino hailed Carlos Yulo as a “certified champion” after the Filipino gymnast reclaimed his world title in vault at the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
Carlos Yulo’s brilliance once again took flight on the world stage, a reminder of the champion he has always been.
And for Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, there’s no more fitting description for the spitfire gymnast than “a certified champion.”
Yulo reclaimed his world title in vault at the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia—his second gold medal in the event and third overall in the world stage.
“A certified champion, he really belongs to the world’s elite athlete,” said Tolentino.
“From Stuttgart to Kitakyushu to, of course, Paris, and now Jakarta, Caloy further has become a national treasure,” he added.
Tolentino has witnessed Yulo’s rise from a prodigious teenager who stunned the world in Stuttgart in 2019, to being a double Olympic gold medalist in 2024, and now a two-time world champion in vault.
But beyond the medals, Tolentino said it’s Yulo’s humility and discipline that make him truly exceptional.
“But with all his success lies beneath him the heart, dedication, and love for his sport and country that led him to where he’s now,” Tolentino added.
“No doubt he’s an inspiration to the youth.”
In Jakarta, Yulo’s first vault—a high-risk routine with a 5.600 difficulty—earned a score of 15.200, setting the tone for his golden performance.
His total average of 14.866 edged out Armenia’s Artur Davtyan (14.833) and Ukraine’s Nazar Chepurnyi (14.483).
[ALSO READ: Carlos Yulo nabs vault gold in World Gymnastics Championships]
Following his win, Yulo took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message of gratitude.
“I honestly don’t know how to start this caption… all I feel right now is pure gratitude to the Lord 🙏🏻,” he wrote.
“I’m beyond grateful and thankful, Lord, for all the challenges You’ve allowed me to experience, for guiding me, and for blessing me with this kind of talent to share with the world.”
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Inna Mina is a sportswriter with a passion for telling stories that go beyond the scoreboard.
She covers running, athletics, and other major Philippine sporting events, while also following grassroots sports, athlete journeys, and women in sports. Her work also includes lifestyle stories on health, fitness, and community.