PARIS (Via PLDT Home) — Gymnast Carlos Yulo and rower Joanie Delgaco plunge into separate competition platforms as they launch Team Philippines’ campaign on Saturday (July 27), a day after the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games at the Seine River.
Carlos Yulo, 23, who finished fourth in the vault competition at the Tokyo Olympics, begins his quest for an Olympic medal in the Gymnastics Artistic Individual All-Around, starting at 9:30 p.m. (Philippine time). The event concludes four days later, on Wednesday, July 31.
A two-time world champion (2019 floor, 2021 vault), Yulo will be joined by three more gymnasts: Fil-Ams Aleah Finnegan, Levi Jung-Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo.
Twenty-two Filipino athletes have earned spots at the world’s most prestigious sporting event, each with a unique story and an Olympic dream to pursue.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino anticipates that returning Olympians Yulo and Eumir Marcial will lead a strong start for a Philippine team aiming to match or surpass the historic first Olympic gold won by Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo in Tokyo 2020, and the silvers secured by boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio.
“We’re looking forward to Caloy [Yulo], Eumir, and Joanie giving the country that strong start in Paris,” said Tolentino, who will be flying to the French capital on Tuesday. “They’re all ready, inspired, and in high spirits.”
Marcial though won’t be seeing action until Wednesday after earning a first-round bye along with fellow Tokyo medalist Carlo Paalam. Their quest for gold has become shorter as they need only two wins to be assured of bronze and two more thereafter to bag the gold.
Delgaco gets into gear as she competes in the women’s single sculls’ initial Heats on Saturday.
The 26-year-old earned her place in Paris following a fourth-place finish in the Final A of the women’s single sculls in the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta in the Republic of Korea.
She is the first Filipina rower to qualify for the Olympics and only the fourth rower from the Philippines to achieve this milestone. The Philippines was last represented in rowing by Cris Nievarez in Tokyo 2020.
