Filipino Olympic champion Carlos Yulo’s achievements a milestone for Southeast Asia: Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo. Photo from the International Gymnastics Federation’s Instagram

The Filipino Times reported that Shanmugaratnam praised Carlos’ achievements during a bilateral meeting with Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Yulo’s two golds … he’s the only athlete from Southeast Asia, from an ASEAN nation who has ever won two Olympic golds,” Shanmugaratnam stated. “So, it’s a real milestone. It’s a real milestone for all of us [Southeast Asian countries]. I mean, we shine a bit of a reflected glory of the Philippines.”

In response, Marcos thanked Shanmugaratnam and pondered the wider impact of Carlos’ victories for the Philippines.

“We had a bit of that just the other night when our Olympians came home, and came here,” he remarked. “And that’s what I was telling everyone that tonight, it’s not about us. We’re just a reflected glory over here and trying to be part of the achievements of our athletes.”

At 24, Carlos is recognized as the most accomplished gymnast in the Philippines’ history, according to Forbes. He is the second Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal and the first to win multiple golds at the event.

According to Fortune magazine, Carlos was awarded a three-bedroom condominium in Manila’s McKinley Hill worth 32 million pesos (US$558,000) for his accomplishments. Additionally, he is set to receive cash and lifetime free supplies of buffets, baked mac and cheese, and chicken inasal from various chain restaurants.

Despite his successes, some contend that Carlos’ accomplishments are overshadowed by his well-publicized feud with his mother Angelica Poquiz Yulo, which reportedly originated from her mismanagement of his finances and incentives, as well as her criticism of his girlfriend, content creator Chloe San Jose.