Winner in life: Carlos Yulo ready to take on new challenges

WINNER. Carlos Yulo in action for the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games. Edgar Su/Reuters Even after completing his golden collection, Carlos Yulo has no plans to slow down anytime soon, pursuing not only success in gymnastics but also opportunities to grow and develop as an individual MANILA, Philippines – Carlos Yulo has nothing more to prove. He has won gold medals in almost every major competition, capturing two at the Olympics, three at the World Championships, 12 at the Asian Championships, five in the World Cup Series, nine at the Southeast Asian Games, and, most recently, two at the Asian Games to complete his collection. And yet, Yulo has no plans to slow down anytime soon. He continues to chase success in gymnastics while looking for opportunities to grow as an individual. “There’s always more to improve on, more challenges to take on, and more to learn. God gives us unlimited challenges and we really have to embrace them. If His blessings are also unlimited, why should we hold back when it comes to giving our best to ourselves and, of course, to Him? For me, it’s really all about gaining experiences,” said Yulo in a mix of Filipino and English. “It doesn’t matter how many times I fall or how many times I lose. Even when I was younger, winning was never really the main goal — it’s the experiences we gain in life that we carry with us as we grow older.” After the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Yulo immediately returned to training. He, his younger brother Eldrew, and Juancho Miguel Besana are training in Antibes, France, for the World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from October 17 to 25. Although he has won titles across major competitions, the 26-year-old looks to defend a world title for the first time in his career. He is eyeing another gold following his vault triumph at the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he also won bronze in floor exercise. Yulo also has his sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he is the defending champion in both the floor exercise and vault. “There’s still a lot,” said Yulo when asked what more he wants to achieve. “Of course, the Olympics will always be one of them. And when my gymnastics career comes to an end — which I think is still quite a long way off — I really want to help young children by giving them the proper knowledge about gymnastics and sharing my experiences, both from my career and from my journey through life. I really want to give back to them.” “I hope that one day, we’ll see many Filipino gymnasts competing internationally.” Beyond his gymnastics aspirations, Yulo is also entering an important new chapter in his life as he prepares to marry his longtime girlfriend, Chloe San Jose. Yulo proposed to San Jose in December 2025, but they kept their engagement private until shortly after his golden double at the Asian Games, when they decided to announce it publicly. Sure, juggling wedding preparations while staying focused on his gymnastics will not be easy, but it is anew journey that Yulo is embracing with open arms. “I’m always happy to take on these challenges in my life. It’s not going to be always smooth. I’m really, really happy and grateful for whatever challenges the Lord gives me, and I think this is one of His challenges for me. I feel like I’m not alone because I have so many people who love me,” said Yulo. At the heart of his support system is San Jose, whom Yulo credits as one of the people who helped propel him to success. His decision to give her two engagement rings, symbolizing his two Olympic gold medals, reflects the significance of their relationship and the place she holds in his life. “I didn’t just win in sports; I also won in life,” Yulo said. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading