What Carlos Yulo’s Double Gold Win Teaches Us About Supporting Athletes

Carlos Yulo’s name is likely the first you’re going to see on your social media feed (and on the news). The gymnast, now touted as the Philippines’ golden boy, had recently bagged two first-place medals: one for Men’s Floor and another for Men’s Vault in the Artistic Gymnastics division of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The incredible success has bagged him millions of fans alongside millions of pesos worth of prizes (including a well-deserved cash award from a notoriously unsupportive government). But how does Carlos’ win teach us to be better supporters of our national athletes?

#1: The reality of luck and privilege

The plight of Philippine athletes is difficult. While they dedicate their entire lives to bringing glory to the Philippines, many fall by the wayside due to financial difficulty or the inability to access proper training or tools.

Carlos’ career began at just age seven, when he started training with the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP). After winning multiple national contests – such as the 2008 Palarong Pambansa and the Philippine National Games – Yulo was then fortunate enough to take on a scholarship program in Japan, where he trained with Coach Munehiro Kugimiya. He was also fiercely supported by GAP President, Cynthia Carrion who acted as both a mentor and financier to the young athlete.

While Yulo is among the handful of students to have been fortunate enough to further their skills abroad, not all Filipino athletes are able to make the cut (or find someone as supportive of their career) – and not for lack of talent either. Some simply are not given the opportunity to even try. While Yulo’s hard work is the biggest factor in his own success, one cannot deny the advantages of training or studying in a first-world country either.

#2: Support should be given freely before and after success

Carlos Yulo is now the deserving recipient of millions of pesos worth of prizes. Among these are a condominium from Megaworld worth over Php30 million, a Php10 million cash prize under Republic Act 10699, and Php6 million from the House of Representatives. While Carlos is sure to experience a windfall upon his return to the Philippines, this kind of generosity is in stark contrast to what athletes have to go through before securing an Olympic gold.

Others may remember the same kind of generosity to have befallen Hidilyn Diaz after her historic win at Tokyo 2020. Yet, before that, Hidilyn had had to appeal to the private sector for sponsorship to make it to even make it Tokyo. While the Philippine Sports Commission has clarified that it had been generous to Diaz, the medalist maintains that the cost of her preparation from 2019 to 2021 had amounted to Php15 million — 60% was shouldered by the government but a substantial 40% came from the private sector.

It's obvious then that decorated athletes are given plenty of benefits after their success, yet this very success remains elusive to many others due to lack of support and red tape.

#3: Personal Matters are Personal

Aside from his win in Paris, another aspect of Carlos’ life has been brought to the forefront of media attention: his seemingly strained relationship with his mother. While there seems to be something of a feud brewing, it’s important for us to realize that speculating on his personal issues only adds fuel to the fire. Gossip will, in no way, support or celebrate the success that the gymnast has brought to the country.

Carlos’ win deserves to be celebrated and while it may be tempting to wonder about his personal issues, commenting on it will only devalue the hard work that he’s put into mastering his skills. Ultimately, news on the gymnast’s life should only focus on the professional – as this is the only part of him that the public is entitled to.

#4: Importance of Mental Health

While athletes are praised for their skill and physical abilities, it becomes obvious that mental health is as impactful on their performance as anything else. Even Simone Biles, arguably the world’s greatest gymnast, had had to withdraw from competition after suffering the twisties which she credited to psychological factors.

In the case of Carlos Yulo, it seems as if peace and mental health are as important for his performance as physical training. He credits his girlfriend, Chloe San Jose, and her family for being an integral part of his support system, adding that he “needs [to] work on myself to learn and accept what I can do and trust the process for me and my mental health.”

Despite knowing that it would be more difficult to train in the Philippines, Carlos had also chosen to forego his training in Japan after nearly a decade. His homesickness and mental health seemed to have been a huge factor in his decision to leave the country. “I now have a better well-being. Whenever I perform, I have a better mindset. Even if I fall, win or lose, I’m grateful,” he shared in an interview. “I’m giving more attention to my mental health, my well-being. In that aspect, I’ve grown. I haven’t realized it before [that they’re important] when I was in Japan.”