Let’s rewind to the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Carlos Yulo made history and sent the Philippines into celebration mode. This 24-year-old dynamo became the country’s first-ever double Olympic gold medalist after taking the crown in the men’s artistic gymnastics vault final on August 4 at the buzzing Bercy Arena. Riding high from his golden floor exercise win, Yulo averaged a brilliant 15.116 points to secure the top spot and spark back-to-back nights of Filipino pride.

His first vault was pure fire, scoring an impressive 15.433 points, followed by a strong 14.800 on his second, sealing the deal in style after just missing out on a medal in the same event at Tokyo 2020. And when it came to the floor? Yulo outperformed Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat, the reigning champ, proving he’s truly in a league of his own. These wins didn’t just raise the bar for gymnastics in the Philippines—they showed the whole world what Filipino athletes can do. But here’s the kicker: there was a time when Yulo didn’t even know what gymnastics was. Yep, his focus was on something completely different—a whole other sport!

Carlos Yulo not a gymnast?

According to an article from Esquire Mag, Carlos Yulo shared a fascinating glimpse into his early days, recalling how, at just seven years old, he had no idea what gymnastics even was. “I used to do gymnastics before [like] karate, those kinds of things,” Yulo reflected as per google translation. But back in 2007, breakdancing was all the rage, and he and his friends were totally hooked on trying out the stunts they saw in videos. They’d gather in a public playground near the Manila Zoo, just off Leveriza Street in Malate, and attempt all sorts of flips and tricks.

Unknowingly, they were already mastering basic gymnastics moves, like back handsprings, backward salto, front salto, side aerials, and even Arabian flips. It wasn’t long before someone suggested they give gymnastics a shot. “We said, what is gymnastics? Of course, we are children,” (as per google translation) Yulo laughed, not knowing yet that this playful adventure would set him on the path to Olympic glory. And guess what? Breakdancing is now an Olympic sport too!

Also called breaking, it’s an urban, freestyle dance style typically performed to hip-hop beats, especially those drum breaks. The first international breaking competitions popped up in the ’90s, and it wasn’t long before the sport hit the global stage. Breaking made its debut at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, back in 2018, and just this year, it officially entered the Olympic fold at the Paris 2024 Games. But let’s go back to Carlos Yulo. From a seven-year-old kid trying his hand at gymnastics, to becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist, what a ride it’s been! So how did he transform from a playful child flipping in a Manila playground to an Olympic champ?

Yulo’s rise from the bottom!

Carlos Yulo has etched his name in history as the first Filipino man to snag an Olympic gold medal, and the first-ever Filipino to claim two Olympic golds. His incredible rise to the top is a journey filled with passion, dedication, and a sprinkle of fate. It all started when he was just seven years old, messing around at a local playground doing cartwheels and tumbles. His grandfather, Rodrigo Frisco, spotted his potential and decided to take him to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) facility in Manila. This marked the beginning of a journey that would soon see him competing at the highest level.

His path to glory kicked off when he joined the 2009 Palarong Pambansa in Tacloban, representing the National Capital Region (NCR), and helped his team win gold. That moment was the spark, igniting his competitive gymnastics career. From there, Carlos’s talent only grew, earning him a spot on the Philippine National Games team and opening doors for training in Japan. By 2016, he had moved to Japan under a scholarship offered by the Japan Olympic Association, where he continued his gymnastics journey while studying at Teikyo University. Along the way, he made his mark internationally, debuting at the 2018 Melbourne World Cup and earning high placements at the Asian Games.

But the best was yet to come. After years of hard work, personal growth, and overcoming obstacles, Carlos made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics. On August 3, he soared to victory in the men’s floor exercise final, scoring 15.000 points to claim gold and become the first Filipino gymnast to win an Olympic gold. The next day, he followed up with another gold in the vault, scoring a near-perfect 15.116 points, making him the Philippines’ first-ever double Olympic gold medalist. His triumphs marked a huge milestone not just for him, but for the entire country, as he became only the second Filipino to win Olympic gold after Hidilyn Diaz in 2020. What an extraordinary journey from a seven-year-old with no idea what gymnastics even was to an Olympic champion!