Congressional honor given to Carlos Yulo for winning 2 Olympic golds

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

FILE: GOLDEN BOY. Gymnast Carlos Yulo, double gold medalist in the Paris Olympics, is feted on the Quantum Skyview LED ceiling of Gateway 2 Araneta in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday (Aug. 5, 2024). The Philippines is gripped by Yulo mania after his twin success in the quadrennial Games. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – The House of Representatives has conferred the Congressional Medal of Excellence to gymnast Carlos Yulo for bagging two gold medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

During the plenary session on Wednesday, the chamber adopted House Resolution 1864, which confers the congressional award to Yulo for being the first and only Filipino athlete in history to win two gold medals in a single Olympic series.

“For his remarkable victory and exceptional performances at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics that brought great honor and glory to the country while showcasing the magnanimity of a Filipino athlete, Carlos Edriel P. Yulo deserves utmost recognition and commendation,” the resolution read.

Speaker Martin Romualdez, author of the resolution, described Yulo as “truly one of the greatest Filipino athletes of all time.

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“Ang kanyang tagumpay ay tagumpay ng bawat Pilipino, at napalaking karangalan ang kanyang hatid sa Pilipinas (His success is the success of every Filipino. He brought immense pride to the Philippines). It is such an extraordinary feat that should be emulated by all of us,” he said.

“Hindi man lahat tayo ay Olympic material, pero tinuruan tayo ni Caloy Yulo na sa tamang pagpupursige ay maaabot din natin ang ating mga pangarap, hindi lamang para sa sarili pati sa ating pamilya, komunidad, at bansa (We might not all be Olympic material, but Caloy Yulo taught us that with the right amount of perseverance, we could achieve our dreams not just for ourselves but also for our family, community, and country).”

The resolution noted that Yulo captured the gold medal in the floor exercise with a historic score of 15.000 points, dethroning Tokyo Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel and besting Jake Jarman of Great Britain.

It also highlighted that the Filipino gymnast’s “stellar routine performance” in the final vault events with a total score of 15.116 overtook Armenia’s Artur Davtyan and Great Britain’s Harry Hepworth.

Yulo will be furnished with a copy of the resolution.

Yulo stands to receive rewards both from the government and private sector for his achievement.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), under RA 10699 (National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act), will award PHP20 million, or PHP10 million each, for the gold medals he won.

Yulo will also get PHP6 million as pledged by the House of Representatives, a house and lot in Tagaytay from the Philippine Olympic Committee, PHP5 million from ArenaPlus, and a condominium unit worth PHP35 million from a property development firm.