Yulo wins historic gold for Philippines with floor exercise title

Yulo's gold medal marks only the second top prize won by the Philippines in both the Summer and Winter Games, and the first in the men's category. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won gold in Tokyo three years ago.

"I am at a loss for words," Yulo, who narrowly missed the podium at the Tokyo 2020 Games, expressed.

"We are a very small country... So winning a gold medal is a significant achievement for us. I also dedicate this to the Filipino people who supported me."

Yulo began with a tumbling pass that included a high-flying 2-1/2 double piked front somersault and concluded the dynamic routine with an impressive 3-1/2 twisting forward somersault.

Upon nailing his final landing, he raised both fists in the air, let out a loud roar, and then saluted the cheering crowd that had risen to their feet to applaud his virtuoso performance.

He earned 15.000 points, narrowly beating Tokyo champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel by just 0.034 of a point.

Top qualifier Jake Jarman of Britain settled for third, just 0.067 of a point behind the gold medal position after making minor landing errors on his tumbles.

When the final score appeared on the large screen at Bercy Arena, Yulo, overwhelmed with emotion, covered his face with his hands as he burst into tears and collapsed to the ground.

Filipino athletes at the Paris Games have been offered a fully furnished, two-bedroom condominium in Taguig City if they win a gold medal.

Yulo expressed gratitude for the reward, but stated that it was secondary to the world title he had just achieved.

"It's just a bonus for me. And this is what really matters," he said, clutching the medal around his neck.

Yulo, who spent seven years training in Japan because of the limited opportunities in his home country, expressed his desire for his groundbreaking victory to pave the way for Filipino children to pursue gymnastics. He stated, "I hope that the sport of gymnastics will flourish in the Philippines."

SportsLigue