Sports mirror Life
We learned as much from Carlos Yulo, the first Filipino to win two Olympic gold medals in Philippine history, as much as we learned from EJ Obiena, who went home without a medal in the Paris Olympics of 2024.
We also learned from boxer Aira Villegas, who won a bronze medal and was lauded as well.
Carlos taught us how great men are made, not just born — with years of blood, sweat and tears in pursuit of their dream. Carlos, in an online interview when he was just 12 years old, revealed his young heart’s determination to win medals in national competitions, and his tenacity to bounce back after defeat. Yes, at that tender age, he had lost, and he was just so eager to try again. And again. And again.
The morning after his first Olympic gold, we all woke up with a golden smile on our faces. Carlos the gymnast was Carlos the Jackpot (in contrast to “Carlos the Jackal”) in my vocabulary.
In an interview with Jane Jimenez Basas of Cignal moments after his gold, Carlos, addressing the Filipino people, said, “Salamat sa puyat, sa dasal, sa effort para suportahan kami. Ingat. God bless.”
Carlos’ journey also underscored the importance of mentors and supporters.
Cynthia Carrion Norton, president of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP), was with Carlos all the way.
“Yes, absolutely,” says her nephew, Ramon Carrion. “Her faith and confidence in him from Day One — she accepted him in GAP, fighting to raise funds and mothering him. When he felt down, the encouragement (from her) was there to lift him up.”
Cynthia has thanked tycoon Manny V. Panglinan for being the “first” to support Carlos’ training in Tokyo.
What a gift it is to have someone believe in you. My colleague Büm D. Tenorio Jr. always credits former Cabuyao Mayor Jun Alimagno for granting him a full private high school scholarship. And look at Büm now!
Your mentor or benefactor may find you in a sea of aspirants. It doesn’t hurt, too, to stand out and be noticed.
Carlos joined gymnastics classes as he learned his ABCs.
Museo Pambata’s Nina Lim- Yuson’s nephew Lope Lim, who is now with the Washington Ballet, was one of Carlos’ classmates in gymnastics class. Lope is from a well-to-do family and yet there was no rich or poor in the gym.
“Carlos was not a street kid, but he lived in Leveriza where a good number of squatters reside. So, some of the kids there joined the gymnastics class,” shares Nina.
There is a now viral photo of that class, with both Carlos and Lope in it.
“That photo was taken by Lope’s mom,” says Nina. “Lope remembers they were both seven years old. When it was breaktime, Lope’s mom said Caloy had no baon.”
And now, Carlos Yulo will never go hungry again.
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From Aira Villegas we learned that third place is a win, especially after EJ, who said, “Fourth place is the harshest place” in a podium of three places.
Olympic gold medalist Hidylin Diaz, the first Filipino to win the gold for the country, consoled Aira, saying: “Inilaban mo hindi lang ang sarili mo kundi pati sina Eumir (Marcial) at Carlo (Paalam) na alam nating deserve ding manalo! Inilaban mo ang bansa natin, salamat! Panalo ang comeback mo! Proud sa iyo ang Ate Haidie mo!”
Indeed, we fight the battles of our brothers.
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The Philippines had pinned its hopes for a third gold on pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who is currently ranked world No. 2 in men’s pole vault by the 2023 World Athletics Rankings. We know how it is when the pressure of the world is on our shoulders. We also know how it is when our best could still be better. Pole-vaulting to our dreams is not a mere metaphor. Some things, we fall short. But hey, just remember we swung to the top and aimed high.
EJ’s “apology,” posted on Instagram, made my heart swell almost as much as it did when I saw the Philippine flag being raised for the first time in the Paris Olympics after Carlos’ historic victory. I saw myself in EJ, in times when I would disappoint my parents when my grades were not as they had expected.
In his message, EJ began by thanking his kababayans.
“I first want to say thank you to everyone who has followed, supported, and believed in me. Fourth place is painful, to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps fourth is the harshest place to be,” he wrote.
“I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love — the podium. I apologize for this outcome; such is life as the world of competitive sports can be exhilarating at times, and painful at others. I have experienced both and unfortunately today I am on the other side of it!”
He apologized that he was not able to join Carlos Yulo on the podium, but I will be back.”
He didn’t give up hope, and in a way, was reaching out to those who have come short of their pole-vaulting aspirations.
“I learned a long time ago to take one day at a time, and that’s exactly what I am going to do,” he vowed.
“‘The good get up,’ as they say,” EJ shared. “I have been knocked down. But I will get back up.”
STAR sports columnist Joaquin Henson told EJ in an open letter he had nothing to be sorry about.
“No Asian has achieved what you have accomplished in pole vault,” Henson wrote.
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Winning is winning.
Sometimes, losing is winning, too.
We may not be champions in sports, but we can score daily victories, big and small, in the game called life.
Sports mirror life. *
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