Carlos Yulo just made history with his achievements, he shone brightly in Paris, with two gold medals in gymnastics for the Philippines, floor exercise and vault in two consecutive days.
Careful preparation and the path to glory
After his final triple somersault, Carlos Yulo threw his arms up in the air and let out a scream of excitement. He knew he had made history. The Filipino gymnast scored 15,000 points, beating champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel (14,966 points) in the final of the Gymnastics freestyle event.
Yulo's achievements have contributed to changing people's perceptions of gender standards in sports.
Yulo became the first Southeast Asian athlete to win a Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. For the Philippines, he also created a memorable milestone when he brought home the first gold medal for Gymnastics, and was also the second athlete to win Olympic Gold (after Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics).
Yulo swept through the arenas of this sport like a storm, he continuously won precious gold medals. Carlos Yulo has become the 'king' of Philippine gymnastics, he brought home 5 Gold Medals at the 2022 SEA Games, 3 Gold Medals at the 2022 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, and is just one step away from the 2020 Olympic medal.
Philippine artistic gymnast, considered a "hero"
From his early training sessions in public parks in Manila, Carlos Yulo soon revealed his natural talent for gymnastics. The young Yulo spent hours practicing difficult movements, regardless of the sun or rain. It was his intense passion and relentless efforts that transformed Yulo from a sports-loving boy into a shining star in the world of gymnastics.
Philippine artistic gymnast, considered a "hero"
In 2016, he accepted an invitation from the Japan Olympic Association to train in Tokyo on a scholarship. After graduating in 2022, Yulo has traveled from the Philippines to South Korea and the UK, where he trained with England’s Jake Jarman, aiming to be the best. Not one to limit himself, the Indonesian talent declared his ambition to “reach for the stars.” The goal is an Olympic Gold Medal, despite the fact that the Philippines is completely unknown in the sport, unlike Russia, the US, Japan or China. In his country, basketball is the dominant sport.
“Life is not always about winning. Sometimes failure gives us lessons to get up,” he said.
“I never give up on my passion, I am willing to give my all and I am constantly surpassing myself,” said Yulo. The 24-year-old is not exaggerating. He won gold in the parallel bars at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar and four gold medals in four different events at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Men Can Be Flexible Too, Carlos Yulo and His Inspiring Story
Gender stereotypes have drawn a clear dividing line in the Philippine sports world. Volleyball and gymnastics are considered a forbidden land for men. Boys who choose to pursue these two sports often face suspicious looks and cruel comments about their gender.
Celebrations of Yulo's achievement across the country have fueled hopes from gender equality advocates.
Gender bias in sports not only affects individual athletes but also limits the growth of these sports in the Philippines. Many young talents have had to give up their passion for fear of social discrimination.
As a talented gymnast, Carlos Yulo quickly became the center of public attention. However, with fame comes no small amount of pressure and challenges. In addition to impressive achievements on the stage, Yulo also had to face baseless speculations about his gender.
The public's comments have made him feel hurt and tired. Social media, which is a place for people to share and connect, sometimes becomes a tool to spread rumors and hurt others. In the case of Carlos Yulo, false rumors about his sexuality spread at a dizzying speed on social media platforms, seriously affecting his reputation and personal life.
The public and experts stress that it is time for parents in the Philippines to put aside gender norms.
However, by making his relationship public, Yulo has strongly asserted himself and sent a message about gender equality. His actions not only help protect his own honor but also inspire many people, especially young people, to dare to be true to themselves and overcome social prejudices.
The public and experts stress that it is time for parents in the Philippines to put aside long-standing gender norms in sports to allow their children to reach their full potential.
"Some talents are still associated with a certain gender. Men are expected to be strong, while women are expected to be graceful. These gender expectations or stereotypes not only limit the potential of individuals but also of society as a whole. These biases are also seen in sports," said Vince Liban, a member of the youth-led gender lobby group PANTAY.
Carlos Yulo’s resounding victory in the international arena is not only a source of pride for the Philippines but also a powerful message to the world. His success has proven that talent knows no gender, and anyone can achieve great heights with enough passion and effort.
More importantly, Yulo’s victory has created a wave of change in the perception of the Filipino people. The majority has begun to realize that gender stereotypes are a major barrier to the development of sports and the talents of athletes. Young people, especially girls, now feel more confident in pursuing sports that are traditionally considered to be only for men. Yulo’s victory has become an endless source of inspiration, awakening in the hearts of every Filipino a belief in the future and aspiration to rise up.
