Photographed by Joseph Pascual for the July 2024 Issue of Vogue Man Philippines.
Four years after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz bagged the Philippines’ first gold medal at the Tokyo summer games, Carlos Yulo makes history as the Philippines’ first double Olympic gold medalist.
The last time gymnast Carlos Yulo spoke with Vogue Philippines, he said that his plans were “working so far” as he was preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics. And so it has. Over the weekend, Carlos was victorious, winning not one but two gold medals for the Philippines.
He bagged the first gold medal during the men’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise final at the Bercy Arena last Saturday, August 3. His performance earned 15.000 points, besting Israel’s Artem Dolopyat, who won the silver medal, and Great Britain’s Jake Jarman, who took home the bronze. The victory marks the second Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, after Hidilyn Diaz’s historic gold medal in the previous Tokyo Olympics. He is also the first Filipino to win a medal of any color in gymnastics at the Olympic Games.
One gold medal was already enough cause for celebration, but Yulo went the extra mile. Following his first gold medal, the 24-year-old gymnastics champion won a second in the men’s artistic gymnastics vault final. Carlos earned an average of 15.116 points, with 15.333 points in his first vault and 14.800 in his second vault. Following him is Armenia’s Artur Davtyan, who placed silver with 14.966 points, and Great Britain’s Harry Hepworth, who placed bronze with 14.949 points.
Carlos is a ten-time Asian champion, a nine-time SEA Games champion, and a six-time world championship medalist. Now, with these two historic Olympic wins, he becomes the first Filipino double Olympic gold medalist.
