by Ronald O. Reyes, OSV News
MANILA, Philippines (OSV News) — A church official in the Philippines has joined others to celebrate a historic double gold that gymnast Carlos Yulo won at the Paris Olympics.
The 24-year-old Filipino won a gold medal in the artistic gymnastic floor exercise on Aug. 3 and another gold in the vault event the next day.
Yulo became the first Filipino to win two gold medals and only the second to win an Olympic gold after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in 2021.
The Philippines’ participation in the 2024 Olympics marks the country’s 100th year of competing in the Games.
Yulo’s was an “extraordinary achievement in the Olympics,” said Jing Rey Henderson, head of communications and partnership development at Caritas Philippines.
The official of the national bishops’ conference’s humanitarian arm lauded Yulo’s “perseverance, dedication, and unwavering faith.”
Yulo will “inspire millions of Filipinos to dream big and strive for excellence,” she said.
Challengers marked Yulo’s journey, and his victory “is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people,” Henderson told UCA News on Aug. 5.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also joined the nation in congratulating Yulo’s historic performance at the Olympics.
“No words can express how proud we are of you, Caloy! You have achieved GOLD for the Philippines not once, but twice! Filipinos all over the world stood united, cheering and rooting for you,” Marcos said in a social media post.
Diaz, the weightlifter who brought the Philippines its first gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, also lauded Yulo’s achievement.
“Enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Always give back to God and the country because all our successes are not just for ourselves,” read part of Diaz’ Instagram post on Aug. 3.
Filipinos in the country and abroad showered the gymnast with congratulatory messages.
The government and several companies have pledged rewards for Yulo’s performance in gymnastics, a popular sport among Filipinos.
The House of Representatives will gift Yulo 6 million pesos ($103,744) in cash incentives in addition to the 10 million pesos ($172,900) paid to athletes by the Philippine Sports Commission.
A real estate company offered Yulo a three-bedroom property and some private enterprises offered cash gifts.
“All the struggles that brought me down, all the people who didn’t believe in me and put me down — this is for those who truly believed in me,” Yulo said in a media interview shortly after clinching his second gold medal.
