Philippine gymnast Carlos Yulo won his second Olympic gold medal in two days, becoming only the second athlete to take the top prize of the Games for his country.
A three-bedroom condo, thousands of dollars and a lifetime of free ramen are among the many gifts the government and local companies have pledged to reward the 24-year-old for his historic wins in the men’s gymnastics and vault events. .
Mr. Yulo’s action made him very popular on social media in this country.
“Another Philippine gold! History is being made again! It’s really fun! [You are incredible!]” wrote a user on X.
Mr Yulo averaged 15.116 on the vault on Sunday, ahead of Armenia’s Artur Davtyan (14.966) and Britain’s Harry Hepworth (14.949).
He clapped his hands in the air and hugged the other athletes when he heard his score. He entered the competition without high expectations, he told reporters.
“I was hoping that I would do well. I didn’t really expect a medal,” said Mr. Yulo.
“It felt like a bonus for me. It’s crazy, because last night I couldn’t sleep. I’m so happy because I got the gold medal. [the day before].
About 24 hours ago, Mr Yulo had won the men’s floor exercise gold by 15 points, edging out Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat by just 0.034 points. Mr Dolgopyat was the defending Olympic champion and world champion.
Mr. Yulo’s double gold is now the most talked about topic on X, formerly known as Twitter, in the Philippines.
“It took us 100 years to hear Lupang Hinirang [the Philippines’ national anthem] two nights in a row while the world watched. Thank you so much for the pride and the historic moment!” wrote user X.
A century has passed since the Philippines first played in the Olympics in 1924. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won her first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo three years ago.
Philippine celebrities and public figures, including president Ferdinand Marcos Jr and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, also congratulated Mr Yulo.
“No words can express how proud we are of you, Caloy. You won GOLD in the Philippines not once, but twice! Filipinos all over the world are standing together, cheering and trying to help you,” Mr. Marcos wrote on Facebook.
The Philippine government will give the gymnast 10 million Philippine pesos ($173,300; £135,400) – the prize promised to any gold medalist – while a real estate company has promised her a three-bedroom apartment in McKinley Hill, the world’s largest housing development. metropolitan Manila.
The House of Representatives promised to give Mr Yulo another 6 million pesos in cash, with the speaker of the lower house, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, describing him as a “sports hero” and a “national treasure”.
Even medical clinics and universities have rolled out the red carpet for the national hero – a cardiologist offered Mr Yulo free consultations and colonoscopies for life while the University of Mindanao promised free university loans.
They are also waiting for him the stuff of a lifetime of ramenmac and cheese and grilled chicken offered by various restaurant chains.
Meanwhile, the capital Manila, where Mr Yulo was born and raised, is preparing a “hero’s welcome” for him.
“A very warm welcome will greet him and all our Olympians in Paris. When we meet him, we will present Carlos Yulo with incentive money, awards and tokens of eternal gratitude of the proud capital of the Philippines,” said the city’s mayor, Honey Lacuna.
Additional reporting by Virma Simonette in Manila
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