Carlos Yulo has finally utilized his exceptional talent to its fullest.
The Filipino gymnast made history once more on Saturday, 3 August, by securing the gold medal in the men’s floor exercise final at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Yulo scored a 15.000 after flawlessly landing his three-and-a-half twist dismount. On the podium, he celebrated by pumping his fists, presenting to the judges, saluting the audience, and placing his hands over his heart.
“I’m so overwhelmed. I’m feeling grateful for having this medal and for God. He protected me, as always,” Yulo expressed afterward. “He gave me the strength to get through this kind of performance and perform this well.”
Tokyo 2020 champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel earned the silver medal with a score of 14.966, while Great Britain’s Jake Jarman took home the bronze with a 14.933 score.
This victory marks the first gymnastics medal for the Philippines and the country’s second Olympic gold, following Hidilyn Diaz’s win in the Women’s 55 kg weightlifting event in Tokyo.
Yulo’s triumph comes after years of struggle, including consistency issues and performance pressures at the last Games in Tokyo. Despite breakthroughs like his first gold at the 2019 World Championships, he also faced setbacks, such as finishing last in the all-around during qualifications at last year’s World Championships.
“I’m grateful for the people who really supported me. I could not do it without them,” Yulo concluded.