MANILA – Carlos Edriel Yulo was the smallest competitor but he stood tallest to deliver just the second gold for the Philippines in its 100-year participation in the Olympics.
The 24-year-old Yulo delivered what the country expected of him after a near-flawless routine in his pet event, floor exercise, at the Bercy Arena of the Paris Olympics late Saturday (PH time).
He crashed out in the final three years ago in Tokyo but finally hit perfection to win it all.
“A final of the very highest quality,” the international gymnastics federation said.
The wunderkind performed third in order and scored exactly 15 points, enough to edge Israeli Artem Dolgopyat, the 2021 Tokyo champion who came right before him.
Dolgopyat tallied 14.966 points for silver while Great Britain’s Jake Jarman, whose mother hails from Cebu province, captured the bronze with 14.933 points.
On Sunday night, he will go for a second medal in the vault finals.
“I am confident that it will not be the last,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. posted on social media. “Congratulations, Caloy! The entire country stands proud with you!”
“Thanks to Carlos Yulo, we have another golden moment to celebrate. His dedication and skill have not only brought us immense pride but also highlighted the incredible talent of our nation. Thank you, Carlos, for making us proud and inspiring us with your success. Your achievements are a testament to your hard work and the spirit of our people. Here’s to making history and celebrating many more triumphs!” the Philippine Olympic Committee said.
The 4-foot-9 Yulo rose to prominence after winning the 2019 Germany world championship, also on the floor. He plucked another gold in vault two years later in Japan.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz delivered the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Hours earlier, Ernest John “EJ” Obiena booked his place in the finals of men’s pole vault following the tension-filled qualifications at Stade De France.
Expected to make the next stage, the world No. 2 pole vaulter almost missed the cut after an early struggle but bounced back to seal his place in the last 12. The medal round is scheduled early Tuesday (PH time).
Yulo capturing the gold made up for boxer Carlo Paalam’s farewell from medal contention at Paris North Arena in the nearby city of Villepinte.
Paalam could not sustain a solid first round and fell prey to Australian opponent Charlie Senior in the men’s 57-kilogram quarterfinals.
The bout was tight almost all nine minutes with Paalam showing his accuracy and solid evasion and Senior making good use of his height and reach advantage.
The verdict, though, was ultimately decided by Irish judge Ben McGarrigle, who gave Round 3 to Senior after scoring it 19-all in the other rounds, sending Paalam home without a medal after a silver in Tokyo.
Female boxers Aira Villegas (50kg) and 2021 Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio also qualified for the quarterfinals. Another win means a sure bronze.
As of 11:30 p.m. (PH time), the Philippines was the only Southeast Asian nation in the medal count.
China was still ahead with a 15-11-9 gold-silver-bronze tally, followed by Australia with 12-7-5 and the United States (11-20-19), which overtook the host (11-13-14). Great Britain was fifth with 10-10-12.
At least 52 nations have tallied at least one medal, with Austria, Egypt, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia and Chinese Taipei at the bottom with a bronze apiece. (PNA)
