DOUBLE gold Olympic medal winner Carlos Yulo returned to his roots during the hero’s welcome for the 2024 Paris Olympians, navigating familiar places which played a great part in him becoming one of the Philippines’ top sporting heroes of all time.
The 24-year-old gymnast got nostalgic as the 7.70 km parade route passed by the Rizal Park, President Quirino Ave., Adriatico St. and, finally, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Yulo is familiar with those landmarks, part of his training ground when he was just starting out in his quest for glory.
It was in the streets of Quirino and Adriatico where Yulo and his childhood friends usually played and tumbled as aspiring gymnasts, with the Paraiso ng Batang Maynila serving as their haven.
He eventually found his way into the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the headquarters of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines that ultimately became his home.
And the Rizal Park? It was actually where Yulo’s first Olympic TV ad was shot.
During the parade, ArenaPlus, the leading sports entertainment gateway in the country, joined thousands of Filipinos who warmly welcomed Yulo and the rest of the Filipino Olympians who returned home with four medals — two golds from Yulo and bronze medals each from boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
“Win or lose, ‘Astig ang lahat sa ArenaPlus,” the 24/7 sports app proudly proclaimed with Yulo as its official ambassador.
As a token for winning the gold in the floor exercise and vault, the firm rewarded the Filipino gymnast with a P5 million financial incentive.
