Senators on Sunday, August 4 hailed gymnast Carlos Yulo’s historic gold medal win in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Yulo garnered a 15.000 score in the men's floor exercise on Aug. 3, 2024 to become the first Filipino gymnast to reach the podium and the country's second Olympic gold medalist after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won gold in the Tokyo Olympics.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committees on Sports and Youth, congratulated Yulo for being the champion on the men’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise.
"Ang iyong pagkapanalo ng gintong medalya sa Olympics ay nagbibigay ng malaking karangalan sa buong sambayanan. Isa kang malaking dahilan para mas lalong magkaisa ang mga Pilipino sa panahong sinusubok ang katatagan ng ating mga mamamayan dahil sa mga hamon ng panahon (Your winning the gold medal at the Olympics gives great honor to the entire nation. You are a big reason for Filipinos to be more united at a time when the stability of our people is being tested due to the challenges of the times),” Go said.
“Bilang chairperson ng Senate Sports Committee at Senate Youth Committee, patuloy kong susuportahan ang mga katulad mo at mga kabataang Pilipinong nais din maging kampeon sa hinaharap (As chairperson of the Senate Sports Committee and Senate Youth Committee, I will continue to support people like you and young Filipinos who also want to be champions in the future),” he said.
“Ang sarap ng pakiramdam kapag pinaghirapan at pinagpawisan ang iyong panalo. Ito ay isa sa mga pruweba na kapag buo ang suporta ng sambayanan sa ating mga atleta ay malayo ang kanilang mararating (It's a great feeling when you work hard and sweat for your win. This is one of the proofs that when the people support our athletes, they will go far),” added the senator.
Isang hamon rin ito sa atin para maipagpatuloy pa at mas palakasin ang ating mga programa sa sports upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon at inspirasyon ang iba pang atleta na maipakita ang kanilang gilas at magwagi hindi lamang sa sports kundi sa anumang larangang kanilang pipiliin sa buhay (This is also a challenge for us to continue and strengthen our sports programs to give other athletes the opportunity and inspiration to show their talent and win not only in sports but in any field they choose in life),” he said.
Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay said Yulo’s win is also the Philippines' first medal in the ongoing Olympics.
“Pagpupugay sa unang gymnast gold medalist ng bansa, Carlos Yulo! Isang bansa ang nakiiyak, nakihiyaw at nakipalakpak sa makasaysayang araw ni Caloy sa Paris Olympics (Tribute to the country's first gymnast gold medalist, Carlos Yulo! A nation cried, screamed and applauded Caloy's historic day at the Paris Olympics),” Binay said.
Binay recalled that Yulo had overcome various setbacks and challenges, including a change of coach and moving back to the Philippines from Japan for his training, before achieving such a feat.
“You are a shining example, Caloy, of how we can strive to achieve balance in our lives despite the pursuit of glory—na hindi kailangan isakripisyo ang pamilya at kaligayahan, na sa katotohanan ay makatutulong ang mga ito upang bigyan tayo ng kapanatagan, lakas, at tibay ng loob para harapin ang pinakamatinding hamon na hinaharap natin (that there is no need to sacrifice family and happiness, that in fact they can help give us comfort, strength, and courage to face the greatest challenges we face),” she said.
“We all await your victorious return, and we will be sure to welcome you with all the warmth and pride that we can muster,” Binay also said, thanking Yulo for once again showcasing the Filipino's potential for greatness.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also joined the Filipino people in congratulating Yulo for clinching an Olympic gold in the floor exercises in gymnastics.
“This historic win brings a special moment of pride for our country and proves that the Olympic gold is no longer elusive for Filipino athletes. He has inspired countless Filipinos with his exceptional performance,” Gatchalian said.
“Our task as a nation is to ensure that future generations of athletes have all the support they need to succeed the world stage,” he said.
“This is why we created the National Academy of Sports (NAS), where promising young athletes will be honed to achieve their full potential,” he said.
Sen. Robinhood Padilla also thanked Yulo for achieving such a feat: “Hopefully, this will not be the last gold medal for our athletes in the 2024 Games.”