Filipino gymnast Carlo Yulo, who won two gold medals in the Paris Olympics, arrives in Manila, Philippines, on Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joeal Calupitan)
MANILA, Philippines — Paris Olympics two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo thanked Filipinos who stayed up late to watch their games and competitions, saying that the athletes’ victory is the whole country’s win, too.
In a short message at the Congressional Reception for members of the Philippine delegation on Wednesday, Yulo thanked those who continuously prayed for their success at the recently concluded Olympics.
“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa lahat po na nagdasal po [para] sa amin, at sumuporta, nagpuyat po para mapanood po ‘yong mga competitions namin at ma-appreciate po ‘yong hardwork at lahat ng paghihirap namin na ma-perform po ng maayos ‘yong performance namin,” Yulo said at the program inside the Batasang Pambansa complex.
(Thank you very much to everyone who prayed for our success, those who supported us, those who stayed up late to watch us compete, and those who appreciated our hard work and hardships so that we can perform properly on the world stage.)
“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa lahat po; God bless us all. Ang panalo po namin ay panalo po nating lahat, salamat po,” he added.
(Thank you very much to everyone; God bless us all. Our victory is the victory of the entire country. Thank you so much.)
Yulo during the program was also given the Congressional Medal of Distinction, copies of a resolution congratulating him, and a cash grant totaling P14,010,000.
Originally, the House of Representatives pledged P3 million per gold medal won in the Olympics, which means Yulo was slated to get a P6 million cash grant. However, program hosts announced that lawmakers raised an additional P8,010,000 for Yulo.
Yulo made history as the first-ever Filipino to secure two gold medals in a single Olympics, winning in the men’s artistic gymnastics finals and the men’s vault finals.
Similarly, bronze medalists Nesty Petecio and Aira Villegas, who competed in the women’s 57-kilogram boxing event and the women’s 50-kilogram boxing event, respectively, received P2.5 million each from the House lawmakers.
Aside from the House’s cash gift, Yulo and other athletes have received pledges from private companies and government corporations. Last August 6, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) said that they are mandated by law to provide a cash grant of P10 million per gold medal won at an Olympics.
This means, Pagcor Chairperson Al Tengco said, that Yulo would get P20 million.
Similarly, coaches and trainers of all gold medal winners in the 2024 Paris Olympics will get a P5 million incentive per medal.
