Philippines in Yulo fever

SASKATOON--Everyone is on a feverish high because of the 2024 Paris Olympics, especially in my home country, the Philippines, where gymnast Carlos Yulo made history by winning two gold medals in one edition of the Summer Games.

Yulo's exploits in the floor exercise and vault events of men's gymnastics were the Philippines' third Olympic gold medal after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz's historic feat in 2021 in Tokyo. Diaz, a silver medalist in the 2016 Rio Games, ended the Philippines' Olympic gold medal hunt to become the first Filipino to clinch the coveted prize.

After three years, it was Yulo's turn, and he did it twice, the first in men's gymnastics floor exercise and vault events in 24 hours. He is the first Filipino male gold medalist and double gold medalist.

Here is some trivia: Arianne Cerdena could have been the Philippines' first Olympic gold medalist when she ruled women's bowling at the 1988 Seoul Games. Willy Wang gave the country another Olympic gold in wushu's men's nanquan event in the Beijing edition of the quadrennial games in 2008. However, both were only demonstration sports, and the IOC did not include it in the regular program.  

The Philippines has had its share of glory in boxing, with eight medals, four silver and four bronze. As of this writing, the country is assured of two more bronze medals. Athletics and swimming contributed two bronze medals each, and pole vaulter EJ Obiena could end that medal drought after qualifying in the finals.

The successes brought by two not-so-familiar sports in the basketball-crazy Philippines show that our athletes can be at par with the world's best and the country's known powerhouses in the said events.

Yulo became the toast of the Philippines. Businesses like banks and fast food chains have released advertisements honouring Yulo's historic feat. Politicians, from a Youth Community Council member to the president, are busy posting messages of congratulations. Some even have posters with their photos bigger than the double-gold-winning gymnast.

Rewards and other prize pledges are pouring in, with a well-known real estate developer assuring him of a multi-million peso fully furnished condominium. Yulo is guaranteed to receive P10 million (over CAD$240,000) for an Olympic gold medal; he has won two.

However, will gymnastics, the sport that gave us two more Olympic gold medals, get the same attention after the Olympics? What would happen after the celebration of Yulo's win tones down? After the last confetti in a possible ticker parade falls?

A few years after winning Olympic gold, Diaz established a weightlifting academy to help find and train the next generation of weightlifters who could succeed on the world stage.

Now, it is the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines' turn how to capitalize on Yulo's Olympic success. Will the NSA, headed by Cynthia Carreon, get more funding to have their athletes train and compete overseas?

The last two Olympics showed that there are other sports besides basketball. I just hope they get the same attention.