Carlos Yulo’s remarkable achievement of winning two Olympic gold medals has ignited a beacon of hope for aspiring Filipino athletes. His historic success not only brings glory to the nation but also serves as a source of inspiration, faith and resilience

Athletes and supporters from around the world flocked to Paris this year to witness the much-anticipated Summer Olympics. Among them was Carlos Yulo, an artistic gymnast who has been honing his craft for 17 years; at the Olympics, his many years of preparation paid off, resulting in two gold medals, one for floor exercise and one for vault.

Before Yulo’s astounding wins at the Paris Olympics, he had won several other competitions—ten wins at the Asian championships, six at the World championships and nine at the Southeast Asian Games. These are more than just achievements. Each win and loss he’s experienced so far is proof of the great and dedicated athlete that he is.

Above Faith and hard work are keys to Yulo’s double victory at the Olympics

Above Yulo wears Louis Vuitton monogram leather jacket, Prada knit top and trousers

Faith and hard work are keys to Yulo’s double victory at the Olympics

Since his victories at the Paris Games, he has soared to almost unimaginable fame and fortune, becoming a household name back home and a multimillionaire. He is still coming to terms with his new celebrity status; it seems that his preparation for the Games focused solely on success, with no thought as to the impact it would have on his life. His gold medals carry a significance far beyond their material worth, and his triumphs have elevated him to a new level of prestige. Tatler had the privilege of hosting Yulo for his inaugural magazine interview and photo shoot. This humility was evident from the moment he arrived at the studio, ahead of the scheduled start time, when he took a moment to enjoy a light breakfast before graciously acknowledging everyone present on the set.

When he was seven, like most children his age, Yulo spent a lot of time with his friends and cousins at the playground. One day, one of his father’s friends mentioned that the group of kids should try gymnastics; Yulo, who was clueless about the sport, thought it would be similar to taekwondo or karate. They sneaked into Manila’s Rizal Memorial Sports Complex to play on the trampoline; more often than not, they would be caught by the guards and told to leave.