From doubt to destiny: Carlos Yulo's triumphant Olympic journey

MANILA, Philippines – Carlos Yulo’s first Olympic gold was vindication. His second was a triumph of the spirit.

“Hindi ko talaga in-expect na ganun ang kalalabasan. Hindi ako makapaniwala (I really didn't expect things to turn out this way. I can't believe it),” said Yulo moments after winning his second gold medal at the Paris Olympics, this time in the vault apparatus in the men’s artistic gymnastics.

If he himself couldn’t believe he had achieved such near-insurmountable feats, imagine the astonishment of the nation that had rooted and prayed for him throughout his Olympic journey.

“Crazy, crazy talaga ‘tong nangyari, grabe,” Yulo added, struggling to find words to describe his historic performance.

Despite hardly resting after his first Olympic gold medal, Yulo, 24, competed in the vault with a carefree, “never-mind” attitude.

“Hindi naman ako nakatulog kahapon, hindi naman dahil nag-celebrate, nag-celebrate din pero di ganun kagarbo. Pero ung energy ko sobrang hyper (I didn't sleep at all yesterday, not because I was celebrating, we did celebrate but not too grandly. But my energy was just so hyper),” he recalled. “Pinipilit ko talaga pero hindi talaga ako makatulog (I really tried to sleep but I just couldn't).”

“So kaninang umaga, sobrang antok na ako. Pero bago ang training, nag-nap na lang ako hanggang ma-feel ko na okay ako (So this morning, I was so sleepy. But before training, I just took a nap until I felt okay),” Yulo said.

But as always, when facing adversities, Yulo sought help from the one he relied on the most.

“Hiniling ko lang talaga sa Kanya (Lord) na maging safe ako, maging healthy at walang mangyaring injury ("I really just prayed to Him (the Lord) to keep me safe, healthy, and injury-free),” he said.

“So relax na ako kanina, ang mindset ko, kahit ano na lang. Sabi ko sa sarili ko — wala ng mawawala sa kin, kaya all-out na ako. Yun na lang ang inisip ko (So I was relaxed earlier, my mindset was, whatever happens, happens. I told myself — I have nothing to lose, so I just went all out. That's all I thought about),” said Yulo.

For him, the last 24 hours of his career have been surreal, with the national anthem played twice in two days. He