DOUBLE gold Olympic medal winner Carlos Yulo went back to his roots by navigating familiar places which played a great part in molding him to become one of the Philippines’ sporting heroes of all time.
During the heroes’ welcome for the 2024 Paris Olympians held last week, the 24-year-old gymnast got nostalgic as the 7.70-km parade route passed by the Rizal Park, President Quirino Ave., Adriatico St. and finally, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Those landmarks played huge roles to where Yulo is right now, having been his training ground when he was just starting out as a young gymnast.
During the parade, ArenaPlus, the leading sports entertainment gateway in the country, joined the thousands of Filipinos who warmly welcomed Yulo and the rest of the Filipino Olympians following a job well done in the Paris Games that saw the Philippines netted a historic two-gold medal haul courtesy of Caloy and a pair of bronze from lady boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
“Win or lose, ‘Astig ang lahat sa ArenaPlus,” said the 24/7 sports app which counted on Yulo as its official ambassador.
ArenaPlus supported Yulo’s journey to the Paris Olympics, having been with the gymnast since he first qualified to the 2024 Olympiad.
As a token for winning the gold in both the floor exercise and vault, the firm rewarded the Filipino gymnast a P5 million financial incentive.
It was in the streets of Quirino and Adriatico where Yulo and his childhood friends usually play and tumble around as aspiring gymnasts, with the Paraiso ng Batang Maynila serving as haven for them.
Eventually, the young Olympian found his way at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex which served as the headquarters of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines that became his home from then until now.
And the Rizal Park? It was actually where Yulo’s first Olympic TV ad was shot.
