No grand celebration just yet as Carlos Yulo turns focus on vault finals

Carlos Yulo is not losing sight of his next mission in the 2024 Paris Olympics as he takes the centerstage once more in the vault finals set later tonight still at the Bercy Arena. 

The Filipino gymnast flashed his brilliance in the floor exercise finals on late Saturday, giving the Philippines its first gold medal in the ongoing Summer Games and second overall after Hidilyn Diaz' golden run in Tokyo. 

But while Yulo is still basking in the fact that he is now an Olympic champion, he said his job is far from done as he looks to seal another medal in the vault. 

"Of course pero hindi gano’n [kalaki] po, after na po kasi sa kinabukasan may training pa po ako and hindi po ako pwedeng mag-relax," Yulo told reporters, including GMA Integrated News' JP Soriano as part of the Philippine Olympic Committee media, shortly after his 15.000-point performance. 

(There is but not too much, on the day after tomorrow [perhaps], because I still need to train and I cannot relax just yet.)

Yulo also said that the earnings, other bonuses, and prizes he is getting from the win is not on his mind right now, but stressed he will accept everything that can help him in the future. 

"Sobrang laking help po nu’n sa akin. Right now, hindi ko rin po siya agad naiisip and siyempre ‘yung mga pinagdaanan ko talaga ‘yung naiisip ko and itong medal na nakuha ko," he added.

"Bonus na lang po para sa akin ‘yung magkaro’n ng gano’ng kalaking pera or bahay. Pero siyempre, bigay ‘yun ng Panginoon, handa kong tanggapin ‘yun and super grateful ako na binigyan ako ng ganitong talento and opportunity."

(It's a big help for me. Right now, I am not thinking of it yet, but after everything I've gone through and I got this medal now. Those are just bonuses -- the rewards or house and lot. However, God gave it to me and I'm ready to accept it and I'm super grateful I am given this talent and opportunity.)

In the vault, Yulo is one of the favorites after having flaunted his skills in various international tournaments.

In the 2021 World Championship, he bagged the vault gold medal then took home a silver in the 2022 edition while in the Asian Championships, he is the reigning three-time vault champion. 

Coming into the vault finals, Yulo is carrying a lot of confidence following his floor championship, which made him the first Filipino gymnast to ever win a medal in any Olympic edition. 

"Medyo nabawasan din ‘yung stress sa utak ko po," Yulo said. 

"Siyempre kailangan ko pa rin po mag-focus kasi mabigat pa rin po ‘yung vault and siyempre, gusto ko  pa rin i-take ‘yung opportunity na makapag-uwi po ng another medal."

(My mind is somehow less stressed. However, I still need to focus because the vault finals is big and I still want to take the opportunity to bring home another medal.)

—with reports from JP Soriano/JKC, GMA Integrated News