From a nervous gymnast in Tokyo 2020 to a star beaming with confidence in Paris 2024, Carlos Yulo made a lot of sacrifices and adjustments on his path to a historic double Olympic gold medal finish.
From a disappointing run in Tokyo 2020 to a historic finish in Paris 2024.
Carlos Yulo avenged his poor performance in Tokyo with not one but two gold medals in Paris, becoming the first Filipino athlete to win multiple gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
Failing to reach the all-around and floor exercise finals in Tokyo 2020, Yulo was the first to admit that he lacked confidence during his first Olympic stint.
Yulo's sole consolation in Tokyo 2020 was placing fourth in the vault finals.
“Nung Tokyo po kasi, hindi din ako ganun ka-confident sa kakayahan ko eh. Hindi ko pa talaga nae-explore 'yung sarili ko eh, 'yung true self ko,” Yulo said during a Cignal TV press conference on Thursday, August 15.
“Sobrang mahiyain, feeling ko ang liit ng galaw ko sa Tokyo talaga. And kahit preparado akong pumunta roon, hindi talaga lumabas 'yung pinractice ko talaga,” he added.
But even with the extra motivation to do better in his next competitions after Tokyo, Yulo still found himself searching for something more.
“Nasabi ko sa mga marami kong interview after Tokyo na lahat ng magiging competition ko [ay] revenge pero hindi siya sustainable talaga eh. Siguro mga isa o dalawang competiton, worn out na talaga, nag-fade talaga,” said Yulo.
“Parang kailangan kong hanapin talaga 'yung sarili ko, 'yung sarili kong style, and 'yung personality ko outside gymnastics din. Kailangan din na i-balance 'yung sa personal life ko,” he added.
And that’s precisely what Yulo did.
Finding that balance, Yulo entered Paris 2024 with momentum on his side after bagging a gold medal in parallel bars and silver in vault at the 2024 FIG Artistic Gymnastic Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar, last April.
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Beaming with confidence, the Pinoy gymnast shined in the floor exercise and vault in Paris 2024, bringing home the country’s second and third gold medals in its Olympic history.
It's a sign of remarkable growth for Yulo, a 2019 world champion in floor exercise and a 2021 world champion in vault. Also bagging multiple medals in parallel bars, the Filipino gymnast showed his development in his first Olympic individual all-around finals--nabbing a high score in rings as well.
“Ngayon, mas confident ako, mas kilala ko 'yung sarili ko, masaya kong ginagawa 'yung gymnastics,” said Yulo.
But Yulo’s growth as a gymnastics star was evident not just in the way he performed but how he also accepted the difficulties that came his way.
“Hindi lang siya revenge talaga eh, pupunta ka dun napag-aralan mo 'yung bawat movement, 'yung personality mo, kung paano mo i-handle 'yung difficulties,” Yulo explained.
“Hindi ka palaging magaling eh. Sa training doon mo makita na kahit nagkakamali ka, na-appreciate mo pa rin 'yung pagkakamali mo. Doon talaga ako natuto,” he added.
[ALSO READ: The little gymnast the could: Carlos Yulo believed he can win in the Olympics, and then he did]
With a new sense of belief, the 24-year-old Yulo believes he is in the best shape he’s ever been. Caloy is even aiming for a medal finish in the individual all-around event come Los Angeles 2028.
“Mas positive ako ngayon mentally, physically, and spiritually. Mas nag-mature ako after nung Tokyo,” Yulo ended.