BY REY C. LACHICA
PARIS – The moment has finally arrived, and Carlos Yulo seized the opportunity with a performance beyond imagination to win the country’s first gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the famed Bercy Stadium.
But he waited for a while before completing his incredible journey being the third to perform in the 8-player finals.
And when the score of the last gymnast – British Luke Whitehouse – was flashed on a giant TV monitor above – Yulo dropped to his knees, covered his face with both hands in disbelief.
Tears started to roll over on his face and eventually cried unabashedly.
It was great sight and almost magical.
Even to those watching him – the Filipinos inside the arena – were also teary eyed – all happy and proud that another Filipino with an indomitable spirit emerged triumphant in the biggest show on earth.
Winning the gold, according to Yulo, was very important for the country. It’s so for a small country like the Philippines.
His array of routines – 2.5 twist to front double pike and front double full to double front were spectacular and so were his triple twist side pass, front layout to full front 2.5 twist a joy to watch.
Then he ended his performance with a 3.5 twist that elicited roars of approval.
Even the judged were fully convinced with his powerful and artistic performance that they gave him an eye-popping score of 15.000 – thanks to 6.6 degree of difficulty and execution so smooth he was given 8.400.
The marked improvement in the degree of difficulty – from 6.2 to 6.6 – did wonders for him.
Even Yulo himself was surprised with his performance.
“Grabe hindi po ako makapaniwala,” beamed Yulo. “Sobrang pasalamat ako sa Paninoon na di nya ako pinabayaan, sa lahat ng mga changes na binigay nya.”
His split with Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimaya was one of them.
Unlike in the all-around – his first of three finals – Yulo performed without hesitation.
“Actually, I adjusted my score in the qualification for me to qualify safely and because it was really stressful for my body as well as for my mind. So I really wanted to qualify resafely,” said Yulo. “On the final ,I just went for it and did not hesitate.”
And yes, Yulo is not just a world champion, he’s is now an Olympic champion and a legend.
What made Yulo’s win the more impressive was he dethroned Tokyo Games champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel, who tallied 14.966, and Fil-British Jake Jarman who produced 14.933.
Jarman was picked heavily to rule the event after topping the prelims with a score of 14.966, but it was Yulo who delivered the most enthralling show, what with his aerial artistry.
Yulo’s gold medal was the second by the country’s 100 years of participation or three years since weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz reigned supreme in the Covid-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.
Diaz, who is set to arrive in the charming French capital, was one of the first to congratulate Yulo.
“Yehey! May Olympic Gold tayo from@c_edrielzxs,” said Diaz on her media account.
This could a life-changing performance for the proud son of Leveriza as financial rewards are expected to be showered on him.
Inspired with his gold medal-effort, Yulo will go another in the vault apparatus tomorrow.
It also eased the pain suffered by Team PH after Tokyo Games silver medalist Carlo Paalam absorbed a 3-2 loss to Australian fourth seed Charlie Senior in the quarterfinals of the men’s 57 class at the North Paris Arena.
