Incentives galore for Yulo

By Bong Pedralvez

CALL it golden redemption for Carlos Edriel Yulo.

Yulo came through with a performance for the ages last Saturday afternoon (Saturday night in Manila), scoring 15.000 points to win a historic men’s floor exercise gold in the Paris Olympic Games artistic gymnastics championships at the Bercy Arena.

Performing with poise and aplomb, Yulo, 24, erased the memories of his forgettable outing in the Tokyo edition in 2021 to become the second Filipino and first male athlete to capture the coveted mint after weightlifter Hidylin Diaz-Naranjo, who first achieved the feat in the Japanese capital three years ago.

Competing as the third finalist, his showing was even more remarkable considering that the entry before him was Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat, the defending Olympic floor exercise champion who tallied a high 14.966 points to put the pressure on the pint-sized Pinoy athlete.

Dolgopyat, who finished seventh in the qualifiers, was penalized .034 points for his routine, which eventually relegated him to the silver medal, a minute deduction that could have put him on equal footing with the diminutive Filipino dynamo.

After Dolgopyat completed his routine, Yulo responded with an even more impressive performance – replete with the signature aerial twirls and tumbles that he is known for, completing his routine with a difficult three-and-a-half twist on the dismount with his feet landing together on his final run.

He then pumped his fists and raised a fist to the heavens, aware that he had done a superb job on the mat reminiscent of his success in the World Championships in his pet event in 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. The score was his best in the floor exercise since the 15.300 points he tallied in ruling the men’s floor exercise at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in the picturesque German city five years ago.

“God, his (Yulo’s) tumbling is what gymnastics is supposed to look like,” noted analyst Lauren Hopkins of the popular American gymnastics website Gymternet, who had been doing a live play-by-play blog of the floor exercise action, of the showing that pushed the Filipino campaigner on top of the field.

“Sobrang overwhelming po na experience, grabe, wala pong lumalabas kundi pasasalamat sa Diyos na hindi niya ako pinabayaan at walang nangyaring masama sa akin (This is too overwhelming. I can say nothing but thank the Lord. He protected me, nothing bad happened to me),” Yulo said after his golden finish.

He stood proudly on the podium as the Philippine national anthem was heard for only the second time in the Olympic arena.

“Matagal kong pinagdasal ‘to, matagal kong pinagtrabahuhan na kasama siya. Pasalamat sa staff, coach Aldrin, Ma’am Cynthia, ‘yung partner ko (I prayed long and hard for this. I worked hard for this. I want to thank my staff…),” added Yulo, referring to mentor Aldrin Castaneda, gymnastics chief Cynthia Carrion and Filipino-Australian girlfriend Chloe San Jose for their support.

“Grabe, dalawang araw akong hindi nakatulog (I couldn’t sleep for two days). Thank you, Lord!” Yulo exclaimed, recalling his two sleepless nights before what was a make-or-break event.

Diaz-Naranjo was among the first to congratulate the victorious athlete, saying: “Para sa iyo Caloy (Yulo’s nickname). Proud ako sa iyo. I-enjoy mo ang bunga ng pinagpaguran mo.

At lagi mong ibabalik sa Diyos at bayan, dahil lahat ng tagumpay natin ay hindi pansarili (I’m very proud of you. Enjoy the fruits of your hard labor. And give it back to the Lord and our country; our triumphs are not ours alone).”

She posted this on her Instagram account shortly after Yulo’s triumph with pictures of them together three years ago.

“Salamat sa lahat ng maganda at mabuting ginagawa at gagawin mo pa para sa Diyos at bayan! Congratulations! Nandito lang ang Ate Haidie mo para sa iyo lagi! (Thanks for what you’re doing for God and country. Your sister Haidie is here for you always),” she added.

China’s Zhang Boheng, who won the men’s individual all-around silver medal, did not offer any challenge when he performed after Yulo, incurring a 1.067 penalty for going out of bounds on his third pass and winding up last among the eight entries with a score of 13.933 points.

After that, only four more finalists – Kazakh Karimi Milad, Britons Jake Jarman and Luke Whitehouse and Ilia Kovtun of Ukraine – took their turns at the mat but all failed to rise to the occasion.

Competing sixth, Jarman (whose mother is a Filipina), who topped the floor exercise qualifiers and had the best score in the same event in the all-around finals last week, loomed as a potential threat but could only muster 14.933 points, meriting a .067 deduction with a faulty landing midway through his routine. He settled for the bronze.

Whitehouse was the last to take to the floor and when his score of 14.466 was flashed on the giant scoreboard, Yulo grasped his head, went down on the floor, and bawled like a baby, realizing with relief and joy what he had just accomplished.

Yulo’s task was far from over since he was set to compete in the vault finals last night, setting his sights on what no other Filipino has done before – completing an Olympic golden double.

INCENTIVES GALORE

Speaker Martin Romualdez has committed an initial P3 million in incentive for Yulo on top of individual pledges from House members.

“Caloy has earned this reward through sheer hard work and unmatched talent. This incentive is a testament to our unwavering support for Filipino athletes who strive for greatness on the global stage,” Romualdez said.

As of last night, Yulo stood to receive at least P23 million in cash and a P24 million two-room condo unit from Megaworld in McKinley Hill and a house and lot in Tagaytay City courtesy of Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino.

Aside from the P3 million coming from the House, Yulo stands to receive P10 million from the government through the Expanded Athletes’ Incentives Act. The MVP Sports Pangilinan will add another P10 million.

The Speaker called Yulo a “sports hero” and a “national treasure” for winning the gold medal in the men’s floor exercise in Paris.

He said Yulo’s historic victory “symbolizes the indomitable spirit and resilience of the Filipino people.”

“Today, we celebrate a monumental achievement that resonates deeply with every Filipino heart. Carlos Edriel Yulo has not only soared to the pinnacle of athletic excellence but has also emerged as a sports hero and national treasure, igniting a beacon of hope and inspiration for all Filipinos,” he said.

Earlier, the Speaker also extended financial assistance to the 22 Filipino athletes participating in the Paris Olympics and initiated a fundraising campaign among his House colleagues to provide additional cash incentives to Yulo.

“Caloy’s dedication, talent, and unwavering spirit have brought immense pride and honor to our country. His tireless commitment to his sport, his relentless pursuit of excellence, and his ability to rise above challenges make him a true embodiment of the Filipino spirit. His achievements remind us all of the heights we can reach with perseverance and hard work,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez said Yulo will also be conferred a congressional medal for his exceptional achievement and contribution to Philippine sports.

The House has pledged P3 million for gold medalists, P2 million for silver medalists, and P1 million for bronze medalists.

Filipina boxer Aira Villegas, who hails from Tacloban City, is already assured of at least a bronze medal after winning against France’s Wassila Lkhadiri in the women’s 50kg quarterfinals.

“As a fellow Taclobanon, I am incredibly proud of Aira, our Tacloban champion, for securing at least a bronze medal after her hard-earned victory against a French rival,” the Speaker said.

“With her tenacity and talent, Aira still has a chance to bring home either a silver or gold medal. Tacloban City and the entire country are cheering on her every step of the way,” he added. “Their victories are our victories. It is my personal pledge to support them in every way possible.”

HISTORIC WIN

Senators congratulated Yulo for winning the first gold medal for the country in the Paris Olympics.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Yulo’s “historic win” has brought a special moment of pride to the Philippines and “proves that the Olympic gold is no longer elusive for Filipino athletes.

“He has inspired countless Filipinos with his exceptional performance,” Gatchalian said.

He said the government must ensure that it throws in all the support Filipino athletes need “to succeed the world stage.”

“This is why we created the National Sports Academy, where promising young athletes will be honed to achieve their full potential,” he added.

Sen. Nancy Binay also thanked Yulo for showcasing the Filipino’s potential for greatness.She said Yulo showed how people can attain a balanced life in reaching their dreams as she recalled that he had overcome various setbacks and challenges, including a change of coach and moving back to the Philippines from Japan for his training “to get to this moment.”

“We will wait for your victorious return and we will be sure to welcome you with all the warmth and pride that we can muster,” Binay said.

Sen. Robin Padilla said “hopefully, this will not be the last gold medal for our athletes in the 2024 Games.” – With Wendell Vigilia and Raymond Africa