Carlos Yulo emerged victorious on Saturday in the men's floor exercise at the gymnastics event in Paris, securing the Philippines' second-ever Olympic gold. The 24-year-old was moved to tears upon equaling the feat of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who clinched gold at the Covid-postponed 2020 Tokyo Games.
"I just went for it, I didn't hesitate," Yulo remarked. The ex-world champion flawlessly performed his routine, concluding with a confident landing that earned him 15.000 points, marking the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gymnastics medal. Defending champion and world titleholder Artem Dolgopyat of Israel settled for silver with 14.966 points.
"The past months were tough. I faced leg issues and challenging training," the 27-year-old Dolgopyat shared. "It's a tough period in Israel. I aimed to perform my best and demonstrate Israel's strength and medal-winning capabilities." Britain's Jake Jarman, who led the qualifying round a week prior, scored 14.933 to claim bronze at Bercy Arena.
Yulo had previously expressed his ambition to "shoot for the stars" in Paris after missing the podium in Tokyo. His acrobatic and technically demanding routine was well-received, outscoring his qualifying mark of 14.766. "I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for this medal and for God's protection," Yulo said, with a potential for another medal in the vault final on Sunday.
China's Zhang Boheng, aiming for a third Olympic medal in Paris following silvers in the men's team and all-around events, finished last in the eight-man final after stepping out of bounds on his initial jump, ending with 13.933 points.
