PARIS, Philippines — Ipinagdiwang ng Pilipinas ang 100 taong partisipasyon sa Olympic Games sa isang kamangha-mangha at makasaysayang paraan sa pamamagitan ng dalawang gold medals ni gymnast Carlos “Caloy” Yulo.
“It took three generations for Hidilyn (Diaz) to win our first Olympic gold in Tokyo and it took another Olympic cycle to double that achievement,” sabi kahapon ni Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino matapos ang mga panalo ni Yulo sa men’s floor exercise noong Sabado at sa vault noong Linggo.
“Answered prayers,” dagdag ni Tolentino na halos mamaos ang boses sa kakasigaw para sa bawat isang atletang Pinoy na sumasabak sa Paris Olympics.
“Caloy Yulo is definitely on a different level, with two Olympic gold medals, he will be on top of the conversation as the Philippines’ greatest athletes,” sabi ng POC chief. “Mabuhay ka Caloy Yulo! The most bemedalled Pinoy athlete!”
“Caloy is the most bemedaled athlete in Philippine history with 23 gold medals and a total of 38 medals,” dagdag pa ni Tolentino kina Lydia De Vega at Elma Muros-Posadas na nagwagi ng tig-24 medalya sa kanilang mga athletic careers. “We all love them.”
Hindi pa tapos ang pagdiriwang ng bansa dahil may tatlo pang maghahangad ng gold medals.
“EJ (Obiena) and Aira (Villegas) and Nesthy (Petecio) are to go on board and the confidence level for them to succed is that high,” sabi ni Tolentino.
Nakatakdang lumaban si Obiena sa men’s pole vault finals noong Lunes ng gabi (Martes ng madaling araw sa Manila) habang sasalang sa semifinals sina flyweight Villegas sa Miyerkules ng madaling araw at featherweight Petecio sa Huwebes ng madaling araw kung saan ang dalawang boxers ay kapwa nakatiyak na ng bronze medal para sa Team Philippines.