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As rewards continue to pour in over a month since his golden Olympic romp, Carlos Yulo honors the Tokyo Games heroes who inspired him
BATANGAS, Philippines – Paying homage to those who paved the way.
Double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo showed appreciation for his fellow Filipino athletes, saying they inspired him to make history in the Paris Games.
“To ate Nesthy (Petecio), kuya Eumir (Marcial) — my idols in Tokyo — you were my inspiration, as well as ate Hidilyn (Diaz), and kuya EJ (Obiena), the Tokyo OGs (original gangster),” Yulo said during an Aice thanksgiving event honoring Team Philippines here in Malvar on Thursday, September 26.
“Thanks for boosting my motivation and inspiring me,” the gymnast added.
Coming into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Yulo had hoped to sustain his momentum after winning a historic world championship in floor exercise in 2019.
But the COVID-19 pandemic shelved all sports events, including the Tokyo Games, which got pushed to 2021.
By then, Yulo admittedly dealt with personal problems and struggled in Tokyo where he failed to win a medal.
But the rest of Team Philippines delivered, with weightlifter Diaz making history by capturing the Philippines’ first Olympic gold.
A silver from boxers Petecio and Carlo Paalam, as well as a bronze from Marcial also keyed the Philippines’ best Olympic performance.
But Yulo’s golden double in Paris surpassed that all-time best, with Petecio and boxer Aira Villegas also winning bronzes.
With the historic feat, rewards continue to pour in for Yulo and the rest of the Filipino Olympians.
Yulo received P2 million and a year’s worth of products from national team sponsor Aice ice cream, as well as a silver coin minted with his initials during a thanksgiving ceremony by the Singaporean brand on Thursday in its Batangas facility.
Petecio was awarded P300,000 and a yearlong ice-cream supply, with the rest of the Olympians given brand rewards as well.
Yulo, Petecio, and Marcial, as well as boxer Hergie Bacyadan, and rower Joanie Delgaco were given a personal tour of the 50,000-square meter facility, touted by the company as the largest facility of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The Philippine sports star hopes their success would encourage more brands to support athletes, starting at the grassroots level.
“We hope that [sponsors] could also finance the grassroots program, since there are many aspirants who want to make it to the podium,” said Yulo.
“They want to bring home medals just like we did.”
The 24-year-old artistic gymnast, who plans to take a rest for the remainder of the year, expects to return to a busy 2025, where he will compete in the Southeast Asian Games, and the World and Asian gymnastic championships. – Rappler.com
