PARIS (Via PLDT Home) – President Marcos will honor 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Carlos Yulo along with other Filipino Olympians at the Palace on Tuesday, August 13.
Yulo, who won two gold medals in the artistic gymnastics competition in Paris, will arrive Tuesday afternoon together with the other Filipino Olympians at the Villamor Airbase.
They will proceed to the Philippine International Convention Center for a welcome ceremony before going on a heroes’ parade traversing key areas in Manila and culminating at the Malacañan Palace.
The President will personally honor the athletes and present them with their incentives in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to Philippine sports.
The Philippines has already surpassed its Tokyo Olympics performance with its two golds and two bronze medals in the 2024 Paris Olympiad.
Aside from Yulo’s two gold medals, Filipina boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas delivered two bronze medals in Paris,
Meanwhile, mental health issues brought about by a “toxic environment” led to the poor performance of weightlifter Vanessa Sarno, whose Olympic debut came to a screeching halt as she failed to register a single successful lift in the snatch portion of the women’s 71kg division at the Paris Olympic Games early Saturday (Philippine time).
The 20-year-old Sarno, who was being hailed as Hidilyn Diaz’s heir apparent, had three chances to lift 100kg in the snatch, but failed in all, leading to her early ouster in the competition where she was expected to finish in the podium.
The event was eventually won by American Olivia Reeves, who claimed the gold, securing USA’s first Olympic weightlifting gold since 2000.
“Ang frustration ko po ‘yung mga tao na nasa paligid namin, sobrang toxic ng environment. Ang pangit po kapag ganoon ang environment (when you are) preparing for the Olympics,” said Sarno after her event.
Sarno, an Asian and world junior champion from Tagbilaran, Bohol, is the current Southeast East Asian Games champion and record holder in the snatch at 105 kgs, which led to the team’s decision to start her campaign in the Olympics at 100 kgs.
“Noong nasa Manila pa, kayang kaya ko ‘yan (100 kgs) sa training. Sobrang nanghihinayang at nanghihingi po ako ng patawad sa lahat po ng na-disappoint ko na mga tao at nagpadala ako sa mga taong mine-mental po ako,” said Sarno.
The tension started when the weightlifting association frowned upon Sarno’s choice of coach – Pep Agosto, who was barred from joining her during the Metz training camp prior to the Olympics. A different coach in Nicolas Jaluag and weightlifting secretary general Patrick Lee were sent instead.
“Komportable po ako kay coach Pep, nag-explain po ako sa kanila bakit siya ‘yung gusto ko dahil sa mentality ko po, nakakatulong po si coach Pep. Kilala na niya po ako, alam niya kung ano ang nangyayari sa utak ko, napu-push niya po ako, na kaya ko mag-Olympics,” Sarno revealed.
With her pleas falling on deaf ears, Sarno instead wrote to the Philippine Olympic Committee, who responded by sending Agosto to join her at the games, but it was too late.
Weightlifting president Monico Puentevella, for his part, said he will hold a press conference in Manila.
