Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo shared a key message for supporters and sponsors of athletes during a one-on-one interview with TV5’s Cheryl Cosim, a day after he joined fellow Filipino athletes in a homecoming parade in Manila.
Yulo emphasized that expecting immediate results from athletes competing on the international stage is unrealistic.
“Sa una, mahirap maglabas ng resulta. Sa start, kailangan talagang hintayin. Matagal ang proseso. Hindi siya agad-agad. Hindi siya overnight,” said the 24-year-old Yulo, acknowledging that success in sports requires patience, hard work, and long-term dedication.
This lesson, Yulo said, doesn’t apply only to gymnastics but to all athletes across various disciplines. He emphasized the grueling nature of training and competition, especially at the international level.
TOUGH TRAINING
In preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yulo spent several months training overseas. He teamed up with Olympian Lee Jun-ho in South Korea and Jake Jarman in Lilleshall, England. Training sessions were intense, Yulo said, “Sobrang hirap po talaga, kahit anong sport iyan. Hindi pag-gising mo, panalo ka na.”
The young gymnast highlighted the importance of collective support for athletes, stressing that while sponsors and fans are essential, they must also understand the time and effort it takes for athletes to grow and achieve.
In a heartwarming moment, Yulo recently appeared on the noontime show Eat Bulaga, surprising young gymnast Jezzy James Cabaluna. He gifted her with his “lucky charm” chalk box, which he used during his gold-medal-winning performances in the floor exercise and vault events. Moved by the gesture, Jezzy was brought to tears.
Yulo’s message was clear: “Sa support na mabibigay sa atleta, wag po mag-eexpect na may resulta agad. Pagtulungan po natin ang atleta na mag-grow at ma-discover ang sarili niya, sa kahit anong sport pa nila through training.”
MORE BLESSINGS
Since his historic double-gold win at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Yulo has received an outpouring of support from both the private and public sectors. Former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson pledged a P5 million reward, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao hinted at a gift, and Toyota announced they would be giving Yulo a Land Cruiser Prado.
Additionally, Yulo was gifted a P32-million, three-bedroom, fully-furnished condominium at McKinley Hill, Taguig by Megaworld Corporation, further adding to his growing list of rewards. Despite the numerous gifts, Yulo remains grounded, saying he has no immediate plans for these blessings.
“Hindi ko pa alam ang reward ko sa sarili ko. Ultimate goal ko po ito kasi sa mga hardship na pinagdaanan ko. It’s one of the best gifts that God gave me—these medals,” Yulo reflected, acknowledging that the magnitude of his accomplishments hasn’t fully sunk in yet.
Yulo admitted that he still needs time to process the impact of his victories. As the celebrations continue, his focus is now on taking much-needed rest and sleep after months of intense training and competition.
