MANILA – Carlos Edriel Yulo’s gold medal performance in the men’s gymnastics floor exercise at the Paris Olympics marked a historic achievement for the Philippines, outshining all other Southeast Asian nations.
This is the Philippines’ first medal in Paris and the first-ever Olympic medal in gymnastics for the country.
As of 3 a.m. Sunday, a total of 58 nations had made it to the medal board. Leading the tally was China with 16 golds, 11 silvers, and 9 bronzes. Countries with only a single bronze included Austria, Egypt, Jamaica, Lithuania, Portugal, and Slovakia.
The Philippines joined Argentina, Ecuador, Slovenia, Serbia, and Uganda with a lone gold medal each since the Games that unfolded on July 26.
The United States held the second spot with 12 golds, 21 silvers, and 20 bronzes. Host nation France was third with 12 golds, 14 silvers, and 15 bronzes. Australia, previously second, fell to fourth with 12 golds, 7 silvers, and 5 bronzes.
Great Britain remained in fifth place with 10 golds, 10 silvers, and 12 bronzes, while Asian nations South Korea (9-7-5) and Japan (8-5-9) occupied sixth and seventh positions, respectively.
Another golden opportunity
Yulo has another chance to add to the Philippines’ medal tally when he competes in the men’s vault finals at 10:30 p.m. Sunday (PH time). EJ Obiena will also compete in the men’s pole vault finals past midnight on August 6 (PH time).
As of the latest update, Aira Villegas was striving to reach the medal round against Wassila Lkhadiri of France in the quarterfinals of women’s boxing 50 kilograms.
(ia/mnm)
