MANILA — Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez said no less than President Rodrigo Duterte lauded Carlos Edriel Yulo for winning the country’s first-ever gold medal in the 41st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Saturday (Oct. 12) at the Hans Schleye Halle in Stuttgart, Germany.
“We are thrilled with the golden performance with Yulo at the world champs. President Rodrigo Duterte is happy,” Ramirez said in a statement on Sunday.
Ramirez, also chef de mission of the Team Philippines to the 30th Southeast Asian Games, said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and former Special Assistant to the President and now Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go have monitored Yulo’s historic performance in Germany.
“The Office of the President and the PSC family congratulate Caloy (Yulo’s nickname) on this achievement. Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino! (Long live the Filipino athletes),” Ramirez said.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino said Yulo’s accomplishment should serve as an inspiration to Filipino athletes, particularly those who will compete in the SEA Games which the Philippines will host from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 this year.
“We would like to congratulate Caloy Yulo and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) in producing a world champion. His hard work and dedication paid off,” Tolentino said.
GAP president Cynthia Carrion said Yulo’s victory “will have a huge impact on Philippine gymnastics since we have proven that we can produce world champions in the sport”.
“We hope that we will get more supporters for the sport now with his success,” she added.
Yulo and Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, who were earlier scheduled to fly back to Tokyo to resume training, were prevailed upon by Carrion first to return to Manila because Ramirez was arranging for all three of them to pay a courtesy call on Duterte in Malacanang on Wednesday.
Virtuoso performance
Performing next to last among the eighth finalists, Yulo came through with an awe-inspiring display of grace, artistry, and athleticism in securing the gold with an eye-popping score of 15.300 points.
