Being an Olympian is hungry work. Fortunately for Carlos Yulo, after successful two gold medals in Paris, he’ll by no means have to fret about that once more.
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo, who received two gold medals within the Paris Olympics, flew residence to a hero’s welcome Tuesday with a nationally televised tribute by the president and donors pledging greater than $1 million value of money and presents, together with a resort home and free lunch buffets for all times.
The 24-year-old’s wins within the males’s ground train and vault have been the most important victory ever by a Filipino athlete because the Philippines joined the Video games a century in the past. Two Filipino boxers, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, received bronze medals in girls’s boxing in Paris.
The euphoria over Yulo’s wins has supplied a respite for a nation lengthy ridden with poverty, deep divisions and conflicts. Arriving in Manila, Yulo and the opposite Filipino athletes who participated have been welcomed by flag-waving admirers who reached out for handshakes and took selfies.
Carrying his gold medals, Yulo thanked all who supported the athletes. “I’m past blessed and grateful,” he instructed reporters.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave the athletes presidential citations and one million pesos ($17,500) every. However Yulo acquired 20 million pesos ($350,000) from Marcos, who acknowledged the difficulties the athletes went by way of with “no official technical assist from the federal government,” a longstanding criticism.
“They did it on their very own. After all, there are some who helped, typically the federal government is ready to assist, however there isn’t any formal construction to assist our athletes,” Marcos mentioned, and promised to repair it.
Money and presents pledged individually by different authorities places of work, enterprise tycoons and main Philippine companies for Yulo embrace a condominium unit and a resort home south of Manila, amounting to greater than 58 million pesos ($1 million). Outstanding corporations supplied free pizzas, ice cream and lunch and dinner buffets for all times, together with free home and worldwide flights.
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, who rose to international fame for successful titles in eight weight courses and for his rags-to-riches life story, promised to reward Yulo with an unspecified amount of money.
A celebratory parade for the athletes on Wednesday alongside Manila’s fundamental streets is anticipated to attract hundreds of individuals. It would go close to a poor neighborhood the place Yulo grew up and first educated in gymnastics together with his siblings in a public health club, the place a coach seen the spectacular abilities of the then-7-year-old.
“I’ll welcome him with a hug and we’ll leap collectively in pleasure,” Rodrigo Frisco, a 74-year-old relative, instructed The Related Press within the neighborhood the place the gold medalist has turn into a poster boy for hope. “Who would imagine that these slender alleys and small homes would produce a champion?”
Posters with photos of a smiling Yulo after his Olympic triumphs have been displayed on electrical posts on the entrance to his congested neighborhood and alongside close by streets.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz clinched the first-ever Olympic gold for the Philippines in Tokyo in 2021.
