Marcos Jr. vows to produce more Olympic medalists

MASANTOL, Pampanga, Philippines —– Following Carlos Yulo’s two gold medal finishes at the Paris Olympics, President Marcos is looking to increase funding for Philippine sports to produce more medalists in the world’s biggest sports event.

Speaking to reporters after attending the inauguration of the flood control project in this town, Marcos said Yulo deserves “everything that anybody is willing to give him.”

“Because he already has monetary rewards from everywhere... When we meet, I will ask him: what else can the government help to increase our medalists in the Olympics?” the President said.

Marcos made the remarks when asked by reporters whether he intends to give additional cash incentives to the Filipino gymnast.

“For me, my interest is (to produce) more medalists like him. Do we have to change the organization? Do we need to fund it?” Marcos said.

“I think he will be the best person to ask what else it is that we can do,” he added.

Marcos said Yulo would receive P20 million from the government for winning two gold medals in the Olympics.

“He should have won (in the) Tokyo (Olympics); maybe he just got nervous. But now, we saw his true ability,” he noted.

The House of Representatives also conferred yesterday on Carlos Yulo the Congressional Medal of Excellence for bagging two gold medals in the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Both administration and opposition lawmakers unanimously adopted House Resolution 1864 that Speaker Martin Romualdez introduced. The citation is the highest award given to Filipino achievers in the fields of sports, business, medicine, science, and arts and culture.

Aside from Yulo, Filipino boxer Aira Villegas won a bronze medal in the women’s 50 kg boxing at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos hailed Villegas for her “knockout” performance.

“Congratulations Aira! You put up a fantastic fight in your Olympic debut. We are all very proud of you and we can’t wait to welcome you home,” the First Lady posted on Facebook.

The Philippines currently has two gold medals and a bronze, keeping its 22nd ranking as yesterday ahead of its Southeast Asian neighbors on the Olympic team leaderboard.