Yes, people were expecting Simone Biles to win gold medals in Paris. The whole world was fixated on her, but a different name was quietly busy working towards his goal. It was Carlos Yulo. In Paris, he became the first male Olympic gold medalist in the history of the Philippines. With two golds comes plenty of rewards from his country and that’s where he outdid Simone Biles and Team USA.

Now, as his people wait for his arrival in Manilla, he gave an interview on Aug. 14 which discussed his performance on the biggest stage and the aftermath. “I prefer a quiet life, honestly, but I can’t avoid people recognizing me because of the honor I was able to bring to our country. It’s really part of the deal that a lot of people will notice me. It’s still a blessing in my life, so I’m still very thankful and grateful,” he shared.

His quiet life might be over, though. In his statement, one couldn’t look away from the fact that, beyond just preferring a quiet life and material gains, Yulo’s emotions remain far more subdued. If we look at his career trajectory, we might find some answers. He was the 2019 world champion, which enabled him for the Tokyo Olympics. But that was how far the available infrastructure and facilities at home took him. His mother advised him to move to Japan before the Olympics, and so his 16-year-old self did. As it turned out, it was a disaster.

It was lonely and the communication gap certainly didn’t help. To top it off, the gymnast didn’t even make it to the final eight, and the result was, Tokyo saw him without any medals. What did he do next? An undeterred Yulo decided to stay put!

Recovering from the heartbreak, just two months on, he won gold in vault and silver on parallel bars at the World Championships in Japan. “I realized that your greatest opponent is yourself,” he said later. So, maybe, far from mooning over what rewards await the 24-year-old, Yulo quickly digresses to re-focus on what lies ahead—repeating history with a gold-winning podium finish in LA. Hear it from the man himself.

Speaking to Olympics.com, he added, “I don’t know much yet. I heard I’ll be getting a lot of prizes, but maybe I’m more focused on the next cycle of the Olympics. It will be a greater experience for me because I want to defend that title that I won [here] in the next cycle and show everyone that I’m worth of a gold medal in all my performances in my competitions.” As per several rumors, the following list entails the prizes he is being currently offered:

via Reuters

A fully furnished two-bedroom condo valued at 24 million Philippine pesos ($415,000 USD).
10 million in cash from the Philippine Sports Commission. ($173,000 USD)
3 million in cash from the country’s House of Representatives. ($52,000 USD)
Free colonoscopies and gastroenterology consultations once he turns 45. (He is currently 24.)
100,000 Philippine pesos’ worth of free furniture ($1,730 USD).
A lifetime of free food from several local places.
An iPhone 16.

Well, the above list may be rumors, but let us look at what Hidilyn Diaz received after winning weightlifting gold three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics and becoming the Philippines’ first Olympic champion. After ending her country’s 97-year Olympic drought, she was awarded 33 million pesos – about $600,000 and two homes: a condo in the Eastwood City development in Quezon City and another condo in Manila. It is safe to say that Yulo too will be offered similar things.

Regardless, here’s what we know for sure about the prizes he will receive. He could outclass Simone Biles and Team USA here.

How does Team USA fare compared to Carlos Yulo’s rewards?

When it comes to Team USA, Simone Biles and Co. have consistently delivered this time around. So it only makes sense for them to receive a reward that matches that, right? What if we tell you that, in this case, the Philippines stuck to a perfect landing? Believe it or not, the disparity between these rewards is quite vast.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee offers cash rewards to every athlete who makes it to the podium. Gold medalists receive $37,500, silver would get $22,500, while bronze walks away with $15,000. While it seems incredibly modest, they do receive other benefits as well.

As per Forbes, based on their eligibility, the athletes would also get their hands on a full-paid healthcare package that includes therapy, vision, and access to three sports medicine clinics in Colorado, New York, and California. They would also have access to mental health services and medical care.

via Reuters

In comparison, Yulo will receive $1 million (cash and gifts), a resort house, and free lunch buffets for life. Here’s how:

Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rewarded their athletes with presidential citations and a million pesos ($17,500) each. However, Yulo got 20 million pesos ($350,000) and the President acknowledged the hard work he put in and how he won despite not having any “official technical support from the government.”

Additional rewards were pledged by other government offices, business tycoons, and leading businesses. Taking all his rewards into account, Yulo could receive 58 million pesos ($1 million). And if all the rumors are true, he could rake in a lot of free goodies too!