Thousands jam streets as Philippines holds parade for Carlos Yulo, 2-gold Olympics gymnast
- The 24-year-old, who grew up in a poor Manila area, rode a float with other Filipino Olympians after tripling the country’s gold medal haul
Thousands of shrieking fans jammed the streets of Manila, the Philippines capital, on Wednesday in a celebratory homecoming parade for Paris Olympics double gold medallist Carlos Yulo.
The 24-year-old gymnast rode a float with other Filipino Olympians through major Manila streets, having given his country its grandest Games result in 100 years.
By winning the men’s floor exercises and vault, the diminutive Yulo tripled the country’s overall Olympic gold medal haul to three.
With his medals hanging proudly on his neck, a beaming Yulo flashed victory signs to the adoring crowd who waved Philippine flags and took selfies using the float, adorned with the five Olympic rings, as backdrop.
Giant posters bearing Yulo’s image hung from electric posts on the side of the streets.
Yulo’s Olympic feat reignited hope for the 115 million Filipinos, many of whose lives are blighted by poverty, natural disasters and corruption.
