Philippines’ Carlos Yulo celebrates after winning the artistic gymnastics men’s vault gold in the Paris Olympics 2024 at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
The goal, for Team Philippines, was to better what was an astounding performance by the country in the Tokyo Olympics.
Carlos Yulo accomplished that all by himself.
Riding a strong first vault with a high difficulty score and then executing solidly in his second, Yulo won his second gold medal late Saturday evening after ruling the vault apparatus in the men’s artistic gymnastics competition of the Paris Olympics 2024.
READ: Gymnast Carlos Yulo gives PH its second Olympic gold
It was Yulo’s second gold medal in the French capital, and that alone surpasses Team Philippines’ Tokyo Olympics haul of one gold, two silvers and one bronze.
Carlos Yulo, of the Philippines, competes during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual vault finals at Bercy Arena at the Paris Olympics 2024, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
And with two boxers, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, already assured of bronze, the Philippines is guaranteed to fly home with its brightest Olympic showing in history.
Yulo put together a 15.433 in his first vault, which came with one of only two routines with a 6.000 difficulty. He then had a solid 14.800 in his second vault to complete a 15.116 and storm ahead of the competition.
READ: Carlos Yulo to get millions worth of incentives after gold medal win
He waited out the last four participants and no one could move the Filipino dynamo from his post.
Yulo delivered the country’s first gold medal in the Paris Olympics late Saturday in floor exercise.
Armenia’s Artur Davtyan finished with the silver with a 14.966.
Davtyan was the last gymnast on the block and the only competitor who could overtake Yulo and he zipped through two clean vaults. But he fell short, and when Team Yulo looks back on this historic moment, it will find its turning point on the decision to go for a 6.000 difficulty.
Had they settled for 5.600 as most of the finalists did, the gold would have eluded the country.
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Harry Hepworth, who set the pace early, fell to bronze while his fellow Briton Jake Jarman was bumped off the podium.
Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024.