“I have to make plans so I can move forward again,” Carlos Yulo said after his massive victory at the Summer Olympics. The 24-year-old Filipino gymnast first made headlines with two gold medals at the Paris Olympics, dominating the Men’s floor exercise and vault. Now, he’s targeting his next gold in the upcoming Olympic cycle.

Embracing a quieter life, Yulo hinted that his future might involve more than just competing. He’s not just aiming for medals—he’s planning something bigger. His advice to aspiring athletes is simple: keep going, follow your heart, and set your ultimate goal. While he continues to push his limits, Yulo is also laying the foundation for a legacy that will shape the next generation of gymnasts.

Carlos Yulo’s ambition: Shaping the future of gymnastics beyond medals

In an interview with Inquirer.Net on August 29, 2024, Carlos Yulo clarified his current priorities, saying, “Maybe in the future, but right now I’m still an athlete, and I want to maximize the years I have left to compete, so I’m focused on being an athlete.” As his journey to the Paris Olympics was a roller coaster, the new gold medalist just wanted to enjoy his life with a smile. Executing his difficult routine in the floor exercise, he scored an impressive 15.000. Yulo’s medals are the Philippines’ second and third gold medals at the Olympic games. His back-to-back golds in the floor exercise and vault have brought pride to his country and set a new standard for Filipino gymnasts on the world stage.

After his Tokyo disappointment, the ‘Golden Boy’ remembered the hurdles he faced. He didn’t qualify for the floor exercise and vault finals at the Tokyo Games. But he came back stronger and clinched gold in the vault at the Paris Olympics. Yulo scored 15.116, beating Armenia’s Artur Davtyan (14.966) and Great Britain’s Harry Hepworth (14.949), who won silver and bronze, respectively.

Reflecting on the changes in gymnastics, Yulo said, “I need to make new plans again because every Olympic cycle, the rules in gymnastics change. I need to adapt again.” His focus now shifts to the LA Olympics in 2028. For now, he wants to enjoy his victory and manage his mental health.

Yulo aims to inspire more Filipinos to take up gymnastics. He plans to start his own gymnastics school in the Philippines, following the example of Hidilyn Diaz, who opened a weightlifting school. Yulo wants young gymnasts to follow their hearts and set ambitious goals. Despite his mental challenges, Yulo’s journey to gold in Paris shows his resilience and dedication.

From Tokyo heartbreak to Paris triumph: Carlos Yulo’s inspiring rise

Carlos Yulo’s journey to Paris was filled with challenges. Facing intense pressure, he developed meticulous pre-competition rituals to stay calm. He would mentally rehearse his routines until he fell asleep, a practice that sometimes made him feel nauseous due to his intense focus. “Sometimes it even makes me feel like I’m nauseous because I’m so focused on making things happen the way I want,” Yulo, the 2019 World Champion, explained. He believes this constant visualization strengthens him and improves his performance at the 2024 Olympics.

Yulo’s meticulous routines began after his setbacks. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he earned bronze on the parallel bars at the All-Japan Championships. However, he struggled in the qualification rounds, falling off the bars and losing control during his tumbling pass, which kept him from reaching the floor exercise final. He missed bronze in the vault final by just 0.017 points. This series of disappointments drove him to make significant changes.

In 2022, Yulo made an inspiring comeback, winning gold in the floor exercise, vault, and parallel bars at the Asian Games, and repeated his success in the 2023 Asian Games. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “Those times made me stronger. I was able to meet the people that I needed to meet. [Those times] taught me values not only in gymnastics but also in my personal life,” as he told Olympics.com. Shifting his focus to the World Championships and now the Olympics, Yulo has earned six World Championship medals and two Olympic golds. He is now aiming for success at the 2028 LA Olympics. Will he be able to repeat his achievements? Let us know what you think!