MANILA, Philippines – A lot has changed for Carlos Yulo since he became the Philippines’ first Olympic double gold medalist.
Not even the 24-year-old gymnast imagined the magnitude of his historic feat that propelled him to superstardom and made him one of the wealthiest Filipino athletes, with the value of his rewards breaching P100 million.
Cars, real estate properties, and millions in cash prizes — you name it, Yulo has it.
“Until now, I’m still super overwhelmed,” said Yulo in Filipino during Adidas’ athletes homecoming event at its Two Parkade branch in Bonifacio Global City on Monday, September 2.
“I did not expect this kind of impact on the Filipinos. I also never expected that there are a lot of people who support me.”
The Philippines rolled out the red carpet for Yulo when he arrived in the country from the Paris Games.
Along with other Olympians, Yulo met President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the Malacañang and got feted with a heroes’ parade as thousands of Filipinos flocked the streets to get a glimpse of the 4-foot-11 dynamo.
Countless media and brand appearances came next, with Yulo leaving early on Monday for another television guesting.
“When we got back, I was really surprised. I never imagined that from zero, I’ll be where I am today. I’m super honored and blessed that the Lord is making me experience these things,” said Yulo.
But despite his life taking a major turn, Yulo has preserved his core values, including self-compassion.
Yulo has been vocal about the importance of mental health as he revealed months before the Olympics that he chose “peace of mind” following his decision to return to the Philippines after training in Japan for nearly a decade.
“I’m kind to myself and to the people I inspire,” said Yulo when asked about the things that stayed the same for him. “I kept my attitude in training.”
“My dedication and hunger to compete, to train, and to level up [are still there].”
Yulo said his faith also grew stronger as he reached the pinnacle of the sport after more than a decade of working on his skills, which required giving up a part of his childhood.
“I’m more connected to God. My faith in him has deepened,” said Yulo. “I’m really grateful that… my hard work has paid off.” – Rappler.com
