“When I first saw what gymnastics was like, it was like paradise to me. I saw so many gymnasts practising. I remember telling myself that I wanted to be like them someday; I wanted to be a gymnast, too,” Philippine gymnast Carlos Yulo had said about his first encounter with the gymnastics landscape at Manila’s Rizal Memorial Sports Complex at the age of 7. Little did he know that 17 years later, on an Olympic stage, he would prove that it was not just a childish fantasy, that too with not one, but two gold medals!

The journey had never been easy. After all, coming from a humble family in a Southeast Asian country, excelling at a sport like gymnastics is not common. But Yulo is one of a kind. He knew that the onus of his dream was on him. So, before the floor exercise final in the Paris Olympics, as he waited a few steps away from his dreams being fulfilled, he was tensed. But did not persist long. As his routine started, his skills took over the nervousness. Results followed.

With a near-flawless routine on the floor scoring 15.000, the 24-year-old created history as the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics. The job was not done yet. On the following day, he picked up one more gold in the vault with a score of 15.116. Later, in an interaction, he revealed, “That moment was very emotional for me. I remembered all my sacrifices and hardships.” Did he also remember his days at Teikyo University? Surely he must have. That is why he decided to take his gratitude back to the institute where it all started. 

Recently, Carlos Yulo was caught up in an interaction, saying that he wanted to thank them for all the help he had received from the institute. In 2016, Yulo left his country to attend a training program offered by the Japan Olympic Association. However, he lacked the funds to cover his costs. But the International Gymnastics Federation came forward to safeguard him. As a result, the gymnast reached the land of samurai to sharpen his mastery.

Meanwhile, he went to Teikyo University to pursue his associate’s degree with a scholarship. And Yulo remembers that dearly. “I’m going to the university to say thank you for the support they gave me, and of course, for the scholarship they gave me, and for also taking care of me. I want to see them, the president of the university, to say thank you. Of course, I will show my medals,” Yulo said during the celebration dinner hosted by the Japanese embassy on October 1. Not only the university, but he also holds the country as a whole in high regard. 

“Japan is really special to my heart. It really helped me to boost my gymnastics, and of course, my personality as well. I’m really grateful for the people that I met there. I learned skills, their culture, how they speak, how they move. I’m really grateful for that, and for the help that they gave to me, and the knowledge that I acquired now, and all the winnings that I accomplished,” Yulo, who is fluent in Japanese, said. His intimate bond with the country became even more prominent when he said, “I miss ramen. I’ll be eating ramen!” Interestingly, training is not all that Japan has given him.

Yulo’s interest in gymnastics took a serious shape with inspiration from a Japanese gymnast. It was the 2012 London Olympics, and on the television, he watched Japanese gymnast Kōhei Uchimura in action. According to Yulo, that is what solidified his desire. “He inspired me the most, and I said, ‘I want to participate in the Olympics and win a medal like him’. It was then that I started to get serious about the sport—and also when I started to dream,” he had said. All that being said, Yulo’s journey remains incomplete if we do not talk about one person.

It is Yulo’s long-time Japanese mentor Munehiro Kugimiya. It was under his watchful eyes that Yulo started to excel in the sport. In 2018, he made his senior international debut at the Melbourne World Cup. In his first attempt, he grabbed the bronze in the vault event. Since then, he has not looked behind. In 2019, he earned stellar recognition by snagging the gold medal at the Melbourne World Cup. Along with that, he reigned over the national and pan-Asian gymnastics championships. Although the two parted ways in 2023, that did not break the bond.

“I learned work dedication from him and he taught me to just try and try. Don’t be afraid, don’t give up on what you want to achieve in life. If you worked hard, persevered, gave your time and dedication, and gave your heart, even if you don’t reach your dream in life, you’ll gain something better, which is knowing yourself more in the journey,” Yulo said of his master. Although he did not mention if should meet him, Munehiro expects a fitting homage for himself from his star protégé.

“When the Tokyo Olympics was over, Carlos and I vowed together that if we won gold in Paris, we would bring our gold medals to greet all those who have helped us. He doesn’t have to be with me, but I hope he will carry out this greeting tour with his two gold medals,” Munehiro had told Rappler in August. All these speak volumes about his deep-rooted connection with Japan. However, there are some others also who stood to be Yulo’s soul saver.

Carlos Yulo found his guiding light away from his family 

In recent times, Carlos Yulo’s family issues have taken a place in social media discussions. The gymnast blamed his mother, Angelica, for withdrawing money from his account, keeping him in the dark. Meanwhile, Carlos’s girlfriend, Chloe, has stood beside him, branding his mother a ‘habitual liar’. The war of words in the family has gone deep. However, there’s someone different whom Carlos addresses as his motherly figure. 

The individual is Ms. Cynthia Carrion-Norton, president of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines and executive board member of the Philippine Olympic Committee. The two-time world champion has showcased his deep respect for her and in the past, he has shown it several times.

In one such instance, he even said, “If it weren’t for her [Cynthia Carrion-Norton], there would be no Carlos Yulo to win at the Olympics… And I am, of course, thankful to God that He introduced me to ma’am Cynthia.” He has also revealed how she stood tall in his difficult moments. Another advocate of Yulo comes from the sports broadcasting world.

Dyan Castillejo, one of the Philippines’ renowned sports broadcasters, has witnessed both of Yulo’s Paris victories. “I’ve been doing stories on Carlos since he was a child—maybe seven or eight years old, ever since Palarong Pambansa,” she said, referring to the annual national student sports competition. Dyan can not stop recalling the Tokyo Olympics when Yulo grabbed a fourth place in the vault. She said, the gymnast was heartbroken back then.

“He was so down then, so this time, seeing him turn it around and stick the landings, was such a triumphant feeling. I’m so happy for him because I’ve always known he could win, and you can hear from the International Gymnastics Committee that Carlos is super talented and gifted as a gymnast,” Dyan said. Both she and Cynthia are confident about Yulo’s prospects in the 2028 LA. And this belief is what keeps him going amid all hardships.

“A lot of people put me down, a lot of people didn’t believe in me. But I still kept going. I’m so happy that people in my circle still believed in me, stayed, and supported me until the end,” Yulo had said. That support indeed comes with the pressure of expectations. Yulo has successfully met that once. That only doubles up the ask from the super-talented prodigy.