When Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first ever gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, everybody knew that Philippine sports will soon be headed for its golden era.

The only question, though, was when.

The year 2024 provided a brilliant answer to that burning question when a pocket-sized gymnast from a poor district in Manila delivered a performance of a lifetime while a pair of female boxers punched their ways to glory to mark the country’s 100th year of participation in the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Carlos Yulo truly made 2024 a year to remember when he clinched two gold medals in the Summer Games — a feat no Filipino had ever achieved before.

Save for Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion, nobody saw Yulo’s success coming.

In fact, Yulo’s buildup is far from ideal. A few months before the Paris Games, he severed his ties with his Japanese coach, Munehiro Kugimiya, over some personal issues that ultimately led to his squabble with his family.

Without a coach, and an ice-cold familial relationship back home, Yulo had to train all by his lonesome before Aldrin Castañeda — his coach when he was still competing in the juniors ranks of the national team — came over to help.

But instead of getting distracted, Yulo stayed focused and poured all of his energy in mastering the techniques given to him by his former Japanese mentor. He flew to the French city of Metz for a training camp way ahead of everybody to familiarize himself and stay locked in like a predator ready to attack.

“My body is 70 to 80 percent ready. We will increase the training in the first and second week of the training camp and polish the routine in the third and fourth week,” Yulo told DAILY TRIBUNE before boarding his flight to France.

“I want to be familiar with the apparatus that will be used in the competition and adjust to the weather and time difference.”

Golden conquest

His sacrifices and hard work eventually paid off as he overcame the challenges thrown by pre-tournament favorite Artem Dolgopyat of Israel and rising star Jake Jarman of Great Britain to claim his first gold medal in floor exercise event at the loud Bercy Arena.

While the entire country was celebrating, Carrion made a bold forecast.

“Watch out: He is not yet done,” said the gymnastics chief, her voice overflowing with confidence during a brief telephone conversation from the French capital.

“He is ready to win another gold, this time in vault apparatus. You watch him closely. We’re in for a treat.”

A few days later, Carrion’s prediction came to fruition. Yulo completed his date with history when he outshone Artur Davtyan of Armenia and Harry Hepworth of Great Britain to rule the vault event and secure his second Olympic gold medal.

The entire country erupted in celebration. He was supposed to go home a couple of days after the vault event but the Philippine Olympic Committee requested him to stay in Paris so he can be with other Filipino athletes when he flies home to an adoring nation.

As soon as he landed, he was given a warm welcome at Malacañang by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Philippine Sports Commission while the private sector — from major companies to small businesses like neighborhood computer shops, small-time water refilling stations and some hole-in-the-wall eateries — did their best to offer him incentives and all the honor he deserves.

When the smell of the champagne died down, Yulo was richer by over P100 million with other perks like houses, residential lots, condominium units, sports utility vehicles, lifetime supply of gasoline and several commercial endorsements in his back pocket. 

“These victories are not mine alone. They belong to my family, my coaches, my teammates, and everyone who believes in me. I wouldn’t be here without them,” the 24-year-old Yulo said, adding that he’s crediting his win to all the lessons given to him by Kugimiya.

“Coach Mune’s belief in me never wavers, even when I doubt myself. He’s more than a coach; he’s a mentor and a father figure.”

Indeed, the poor boy from Manila who would drop by the gymnastics gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex with an empty stomach — but an enormous dream — had done it.

Punching for glory

Also emerging successful were boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, who brought home a pair of bronze medals to round out the country’s most successful participation in the Olympics ever.

A neophyte in the Summer Games, Villegas had a strong run before falling prey to European powerhouse Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey in the semifinals of the women’s 50-kilogram class.

Later, it was revealed that she could have made it to the gold medal match if she was in perfect shape.

“She was dealing with a lot of injuries like shoulder tendinopathy, mild ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) sprain, and compartment syndrome in her left foot,” Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines secretary general Marcus Manalo said, adding that Villegas couldn’t step on the ring a few weeks before the Olympics.

“Her first sparring was when we were already in France. And her first serious sparring session was when we were already in Germany — two weeks before the Olympics. That’s her first serious sparring session against some boxers whom she will face in the Olympics.”

But all the pain went away when Villegas’ coach, former Olympian Reynaldo Galido, delivered a pep talk that fired up the 29-year-old fighting pride of Tacloban City before facing hometown star Wassila Lkhadiri in the quarterfinals.

“I told her that the battle will not be easy,” Galido said.

“Don’t think about it. Don’t even look at the crowd. Just focus on winning because this victory will change your life. Think about your family; your parents, your siblings.”

Despite securing the bronze, Villegas stressed that her Olympic journey is far from over.

“I’m aware that I’m already an Olympic bronze medalist but in my heart and in my mind, I will not quit until I get the ultimate prize which is the Olympic gold medal,” Villegas said.

“I am grateful to all the blessings and I will work even harder to achieve my goal.”

Villegas’ mindset is pretty much the same as that of Petecio — although time is no longer on her side.

Like Villegas, the 32-year-old Petecio also had a strong run to the semifinals before surrendering to 21-year-old Julia Szeremeta of Poland to settle for the bronze, her second Olympic medal since clinching the silver in Tokyo three years ago.

Later on, Petecio admitted that she’s not getting any younger and, at 36, chasing the Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles will be easier said than done.

“They told me I should focus on major competitions like the SEA Games, Asian Games and the LA Olympics since I am not the same since I was in my 20s,” said Petecio, who already had her share of glory after joining an elite cast of Filipino athletes with multiple Olympic medals like Diaz, Yulo, and swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso.

“I want to focus on major tournaments because I don’t want to feel fatigued. My coaches and ABAP are still trying to figure out the best training for me.”

Aside from Villegas and Petecio, other Filipino boxers who brought home Olympic medals were Anthony Villanueva in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, Leopoldo Serrantes in the Seoul Olympics in 1988, Roel Velasco in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, Mansueto Velasco in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, and Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.