Filipino top gymnast Carlos Yulo has made history by becoming the first Filipino gymnast to qualify for two consecutive Olympic Games. Yulo secured his spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics after placing third in the floor exercise event at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.
Yulo redeems himself after vault mishap
Yulo, who represented the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, had a disappointing performance in the vault event, where he failed to land his second attempt and scored only 11.566 points. He finished 16th out of 18 competitors and missed the finals of the all-around event.
However, Yulo bounced back in his pet event, the floor exercise, where he showcased his skills and grace. He scored 14.600 points, behind Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat (15.100) and USA’s Fred Richard (14.600). Both Dolgopyat and Richard have already qualified for the Paris Games, making Yulo the next best athlete to reach the Olympics.
Yulo expressed his happiness and gratitude on his social media accounts, thanking his coaches, family, friends, and supporters for their prayers and encouragement. He also dedicated his achievement to his late grandfather, who passed away earlier this year.
Yulo joins Obiena as second Filipino athlete to book Paris ticket
Yulo is the second Filipino athlete to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, following pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who secured his berth last month. Obiena also competed in the Tokyo Olympics, where he finished 11th in the final.
The Philippines is hoping to send more athletes to the Paris Games, especially after its historic performance in Tokyo, where it won its first ever gold medal courtesy of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz. Other medalists include boxers Nesthy Petecio (silver), Carlo Paalam (silver), and Eumir Marcial (bronze).
Yulo aims for more medals in World Championships
Yulo is not done yet with his campaign in the World Championships, as he still has a chance to win more medals in the individual apparatus finals. He qualified for the finals of the parallel bars and horizontal bar events, where he will face some of the best gymnasts in the world.
Yulo is also eyeing to improve his performance in the floor exercise final, where he hopes to repeat or surpass his feat in 2019, when he became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian gymnast to win a gold medal at the World Championships.
The World Championships will run until October 8, 2023.
