Said twice Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo
By means of Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter
SPORTS should start in schools to help develop more world-class Filipino athletes, Olympic medalist Carlos Edriel P. Yulo said Thursday.
“The aid is not just about the financial aspect,” the two-time Olympic Games gold medalist said in Philippine during a press conference exclusively for MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. companies. “Athletes in the Philippines can benefit from support in many areas.”
“Maybe we introduce sports to schools and start with that. Later, if they really want to practice the sport they have chosen, there is the Philippine Sports Commission,” he added.
The National Academy of Sports (Republic Act No. 11470) creates an educational system aimed at training and developing world-class athletes as part of a national sports program.
The law forces the state to establish a national sports program that promotes physical education, encourages sports programs and develops athletes.
Despite the existence of such a law, Mr. Yulo says there is still a lack of knowledge about sports in the Philippines.
He added that sports could help many Filipino youth. Instead of sitting still, they could be introduced to different sports, such as gymnastics, athletics or basketball.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion-Norton shared during the same briefing how Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) and his sports foundation helped Mr. Yulo achieve his dreams of becoming a world champion.
Ms. Carrion-Norton called Mr. Pangilinan their “hero” because of the financial assistance his foundation gave to Mr. Yulo.
In addition to Mr. Yulo, the MVP Sports Foundation also supports weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz, the world’s No. 2 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, and boxer and two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio.
After winning a historic double gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, several private and public companies showered Mr. Yulo with millions in prizes and incentives.
Despite this, he said he does not think about all the gifts he has received, but focuses on his personal life first.
“I am focusing on my personal life and balancing it after a stressful competition and a long journey,” he said in Filipino.
Mr. Yulo has so far received nearly P100 million in incentives from various government officials, private individuals and companies.
“I don’t really think about it [the prizes]…I really appreciate the help, but the gold medal is really the ultimate prize,” he said.
When asked about his plans for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he said he would try to become a three-time Olympian again, but must first find other tournaments to compete in.
“I have to look again for competitions in which I can participate [fix] my training schedules are… but I also plan to do another training camp, just like I did to prepare for the Olympics, because I learned a lot,” he said.
After winning gold in the men’s floor exercise and jumps at the Paris Olympics, Mr Yulo said he would try to qualify in the all-around and individual for the next Olympics.
“My next ultimate goal is to be able to win the all-around,” he said, acknowledging his strength in the floor exercise and weakness in the individual all-around.
He finished 12the in the individual all-round during the Olympic Games in Paris.
Ms. Diaz, the first Philippine Gold Olympian, started a weightlifting academy with the incentives she won after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Mr Yulo said he would also like to give back to the gymnastics community, but not in the near future as he is still a competitive athlete.
“I’m still focused on gymnastics…I’m still focusing on my career, but I also want to do coaching in gymnastics and help other kids…I haven’t thought about it yet, but in the future I want to do it. he said in Filipino.
In weighing the significance of his double gold win, Mr Yulo said it represented hope.
“Let us not lose hope, even in the difficult times. Let’s continue [reaching] for our dreams in life. It is okay to fall because that is how we learn,” he said in Filipino.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a part of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in Business world through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.