Photo credit: Carlos Yulo

Carlos Yulo has truly raised the bar for Filipino athletes. The 24-year-old gymnast made history in the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first Filipino to win two gold medals at the Summer Games, a groundbreaking achievement that also marked the country’s centennial participation in the event.

Yulo clinched his double gold by dominating the men’s floor exercise and vault, cementing his place in the history books and leading the Philippines to an unprecedented Olympic milestone. For this incredible accomplishment, Yulo was the unanimous pick for 2024 Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA). The prestigious award will be presented to him at the PSA Awards Night on January 27 at the Manila Hotel’s grand ballroom.

In a historic moment, Yulo will become the first gymnast to receive the Athlete of the Year honor since Pia Adelle Reyes in 1997. The awards night is supported by major sponsors, including San Miguel Corporation, ArenaPlus, Cignal, MediaQuest, and many more.

But it’s not just the Athlete of the Year award on the table. A variety of other accolades will be handed out during the night, including the NSA of the Year, Major Awards in different sports, the President’s Award, and special recognitions for Filipino Olympians—highlighting athletes from the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.

“Carlos Yulo’s incredible Olympic performance wasn’t just a victory; it was a defining moment in Filipino sports,” said PSA President Nelson Beltran, sports editor of The Philippine Star. “We’re proud to celebrate his remarkable journey with our highest honor.”

Yulo’s double gold triumph in Paris is a fitting follow-up to Hidilyn Diaz’s historic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which ended the country’s search for its first Olympic gold. Interestingly, it was in Tokyo where Yulo first competed on the Olympic stage, falling short of a podium finish after qualifying for the men’s vault final.

Fast forward to 2024, and Yulo returned with a vengeance. After a setback in Tokyo, he soared to new heights in Paris, scoring an impressive 15.000 points to win his first gold in the men’s floor exercise, narrowly beating reigning champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel (14.966). Just when the excitement of his first victory had settled, Yulo added a second gold to his collection, topping the men’s vault final with a total of 15.116 points, edging out Armenia’s Arthur Davtyan (14.966).

With these unforgettable wins, Yulo has solidified his status as one of the greatest Filipino athletes of all time, and his accomplishments will inspire generations to come.