Poetry in Motion
Filipino greatness was once again on display at the Paris Olympics. Let’s revisit the moment that brought glory to Carlos Yulo and the Philippines.
Yulo placed 12th in the men’s all-around artistic gymnastics final, but on Aug. 3, he produced the second gold of the Philippines in Olympic history. He squeaked past a reigning Olympic champion at Bercy Arena, three years after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s breakthrough in Tokyo.
On the next night, he dominated the men’s vault final, earning him his second gold medal and the third for the Philippines.
He stuck every landing at every pass emphatically, making it clear that he was back to the form that made him the event’s world champion in 2019.
Yulo opened with a two-and-a-half twist to front double pike. Then had a front double full to front double tuck. He had slight hops at the end of both. But after a full-twisting double layout, he stuck another landing and it was clear he was in the middle of something special.
“I did not hesitate. I just went for it,” Yulo told journalists after the medal ceremony.
Men's Artistic Gymnastics All-Around Final - Bercy Arena, Paris, France - July 31, 2024. Yulo performs on the Parallel Bars. - REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Yulo competes in the artistic gymnastics men's floor exercise final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP)
Men's Floor Exercise Final - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Yulo capped his routine with a front full into a three-and-a-half twist, which was impressive on its own, but then he stuck the landing emphatically to draw a huge applause from the audience, and an approving nod from the judges: the two-time world champion, who submitted a 6.600 difficulty, cleaned up with a near-flawless execution for a 15.000. (Men's Floor Exercise Final) - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
It was the highest floor score in this year’s Games and was just .034 better than Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat, the gold medalist in Tokyo. Dolgopyat, who submitted a 6.200 difficulty, finished with a 14.966, holding on to the lead before the 24-year-old Filipino came in and snatched the advantage. (Men's Floor Exercise Final) - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Five other gymnasts followed, including Jake Jarman of Britain, who eventually claimed the bronze with a 14.933. (Men's Floor Exercise) Final - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Yulo appears to fight back tears after winning gold in the Men's Floor Exercise Final. - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Men's Floor Exercise Final - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Yulo celebrates after his performance. - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Men's Floor Exercise Final - REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Men's Floor Exercise Victory Ceremony
The gold medallist poses on the podium with silver medallist Artem Dolgopyat of Israel and bronze medallist Jake Jarman of Britain. - REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Men's Vault Final - Bercy Arena, Paris, France - August 04, 2024. Yulo in action on the Vault. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Carlos Yulo took a risk and got greatly rewarded for it. Vaulting with a difficulty of 6.000 in his first routine on Sunday spelled all the difference for the 24-year-old dynamo, who bagged a second gold medal in the Paris Olympics by winning the vault apparatus in the men's artistic gymnastics competition, which—just by himself—enabled Team Philippines to eclipse its great effort in the Tokyo edition three years ago. (Men's Vault Final) - REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Men's Vault Final - REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Yulo tallied a 15.433 in his first vault and then was nearly flawless in his second with a lower degree of difficulty for 14.800and a 15.116 tally that was enough to fend off a charging Armenian former world champion. (Men's Vault Final) - REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
"It's all God," was what could be read from Yulo's lips when the final scores were posted, the same words he uttered after ruling the floor exercise event just over 24 hours before also before a big crowd at Barcy Arena. (Men's Vault Final) - REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Yulo celebrates after winning gold in the Men's Vault Final. - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Yulo's two victories have now certainly established a new sporting hero for the Philippines, which also toasted the win of Nesthy Petecio in the quarterfinals of the women's 57-kilogram division in boxing over China's Xu Zichun for a sure bronze medal. (Men's Vault Final) -REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Men's Vault Final -REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Men's Vault Final -REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Men's Vault Final - REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Men's Vault Final - REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Yulo sings the Philippine national anthem during the Men's Vault Victory Ceremony. - REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
