Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo receives his gold medal after winning the floor exercise final in men's artistic gymnastics at the 2026 Asian Games, September 24, 2026. POC Media
NAGOYA — Before flying to Japan for the 20th Asian Games, Carlos Yulo was determined to redeem himself after admittedly not being content with his debut in Jakarta 2018.
The 26-year-old did more than that: he solidified his status as one of Asia's best in the floor exercise and vault events in men's artistic gymnastics.
Yulo brought home two gold medals from the floor exercise and vault, the same events where he won Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Summer Games.
READ: Carlos Yulo rules men's floor exercise, delivers PH's first Asiad gold
READ: Carlos Yulo emerges triumphant in vault final, clinches PH's second Asiad gold
"Bawing-bawing-bawi po talaga. Yeah, hindi man maganda yung start po natin. Hindi pa rin natin siya binitawan po ng ganun lang kadali. Sobrang, sobrang, sobrang hirap and challenging po ng mga experience dito. But at the same time, kaya siya sobrang sweet na pagkapanalo natin kasi yung mga ganun challenges," he told POC Media.
"Hindi natin sinukuan, hindi natin inatrasan. Mas niyakap natin sila at isa-isa natin silang hinarap po. So proud po ako sa buong team, kay Eldrew, sa mga nagawa ko po.Just really speechless. Kung emotion pag-uusapan, sobrang saya ko lang po talaga ngayon," he added.
For the double Olympic and now Asian Games gold medalist, the road to winning was not easy, but he's glad he persevered thanks to his faith in the Lord.
Yulo even got a tattoo on his neck with the word "faith" in the shape of a crucifix, something to remind him to turn to the Lord to give him strength.
"Grabe yung mga experience. And mga miracles talaga ni Lord po. Kahit ako hindi ako makapaniwala after winning yung kahapon na gold medal. And pinagpe-pray ko lang talaga is maging safe kami lahat, magawa ko lang talaga na maganda yung performance ko," Yulo told POC Media on Friday.
"Masasabi ko ngayon yung performance ko ngayon today na maganda siya para sa akin and of course, although madami tayong pwedeng i-upgrade pa sa mga susunod na competition. But at the same time, na-appreciate ko rin yung hard work and yung pag-show up ko ngayon. Sobrang laking tulong nun na nagtiwala ko kay God, nagtiwala ko sa sarili ko na kahit ganun yung naging resultat. Nanalo po rin po tayo," he added.
Yulo was close to adding another medal to his Asian Games and overall collection after placing fourth in the parallel bars.
"Naging door po siya sa akin din. And eye-opening po talaga siya na kaya pala talaga. Of course, kaya kailangan ko pa din po ang trabahuin siya. But at the same time, competing sa all-around, maging contender talaga ako nila," he said.
"So, mag-focus ako sa mga malalakas ko talaga na apparatus para mas mapadami pa po yung finals ko po sa events... Yeah, yung p-bar ko, hindi pa talaga siya para sa akin. And kailangan ko pa talaga magtrabaho para doon," Yulo added.
ON TO THE WORLDS
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Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo competes in the vault final in men's artistic gymnastics at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, September 25, 2026. POC Media
For now, Yulo and his brother Eldrew will celebrate and take some time to rest and recover before their next challenge, the 2026 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships from October 17 to 25 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
WATCH: Carlos Yulo celebrates younger brother Eldrew's Asian Games win
"Pahinga po muna siguro ng konti kasi medyo yung peak namin, eto na po. And then kailangan medyo bumaba po kami ng konti for us to be able na makapag-compete ulit ng ganun kataas na level. And ako, recovery talaga yung nilulook forward ko right now. And magpahinga talaga," Yulo said.
"Kasi parte yan, parte yan ang game. And walang problema kung hindi tayo mag-training ng tatlong araw kasi totoong kailangan natin ng pahinga. Sa lahat na nangyari ngayon, kailangan natin i-soak in lahat to at matuto at bumangon ulit para sa mga susunod na competition," he added.
With two Asian Games gold medals in the bag, Yulo now completes his collection across major competitions like the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Championships.
But for the double Olympic gold medalist, the drive and hunger remain to compete and hopefully bring glory to the country again in the 2028 LA Olympics.
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