Sinegundahan ni Direk Jose Javier Reyes ang apela ng kauna-unahang Pinoy gymnast gold medalist na si Carlos Edriel Yulo na panahon nang tangkilikin ng mga Pilipino ang gymnastics.
Sabado, October 12, nang nasungkit ng 19-anyos na si Yulo ang unang world artistic gymnastics gold ng Pilipinas sa 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships sa Stuttgart, Germany.
Naka-gold si Yulo sa floor exercise final matapos siyang umiskor ng 15.300, dinaig ang silver medalist na si Artem Dolgopyat (15.200) ng Israel, at si Ruoteng Xiao (14.933) ng China na naka-bronze.
Sa interview ng International Gymnastics Federation website kay Yulo matapos ang kumpetisyon, sinabi ng 4-foot-11 teen athlete na hindi niya inaasahang mananalo siya.
“I’m super happy. I didn’t expect to win this medal. I’m crying on the inside,” quoted ng website na sinabi ni Carlos, na ini-report ng Business World.
“There are not a lot of other gymnasts,” sabi ni Carlos, tinukoy ang Pilipinas.
Dahil dito, idinagdag niya, “I want them to come to our gym and try gymnastics, because Filipinos, they like basketball, but we’re small.
“They should try gymnastics, it’s more fun.”
Sa murang edad na 19, nakapag-uwi na si Carlos ng gold (February 2019, Australia), silver (March 2018, Azerbaijan), at bronze (March 2018, Qatar) sa serye ng international competitions na sinalihan niya simula noong nakaraang taon.
GYMNASTICS AS A SPORT OF CHOICE
Sa kanyang tweet ngayong Lunes, October 14, na may hashtag na "#wakeupcall," sinabi ni Direk Joey na nagtataka siya “why gymnastics has never been a sport of choice and encouragement in our country.”
Ayon sa beteranong direktor, “considering our average height as a people plus our flexibility, sense of rhythm, strength and coordination,” mistulang mas bagay talaga sa mga Pinoy ang gymnastics kaysa sa nakagisnan nang paborito sa Pilipinas—ang basketball.
Considering our average height as a people plus our flexibility, sense of rhythm, strength and coordination, it is a wonder why gymnastics has never been a sport of choice and encouragement in our country. #wakeupcall
— Joey Javier Reyes (@DirekJoey) October 14, 2019
Bukod sa pagkakamit ng unang gintong medalya sa gymnastics, nag-qualify na rin si Yulo nitong October 8 para sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Pangalawang Pinoy pa lang si Yulo na nag-qualify sa Tokyo Olympics, kasunod ng pole-vaulter na si EJ Obiena.
Pero bago ang Olympics, magpo-focus muna ang Japan-based na si Yulo sa 30th Southeast Asian Games, na gagawin sa Pilipinas sa November 30 hanggang December 11.
Sa nauna namang tweet ni Direk Joey kahapon, October 13, sinabi niyang mas maipagmamalaki natin ang pagiging Pilipino kung ang Pilipinas “gave more importance and SUPPORT to athletes, scientists and artists rather than the self-preservation of political dynasties and partisan interests.”
If only this country gave more importance and SUPPORT to athletes, scientists and artists rather than the self-preservation of political dynasties and partisan interests, perhaps we can hold our heads up higher as Filipinos.
— Joey Javier Reyes (@DirekJoey) October 13, 2019
PROUD TO BE FILIPINO
Samantala, ilang oras matapos ang pagkapanalo ni Yulo ay ipinost ng dating actor-athlete na si Ormoc City, Leyte Mayor Richard Gomez sa kanyang Instagram Story ang pagbati ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez para kay Yulo.
Sa official statement ni Chairman Ramirez, nagpaabot siya ng pagbati kay Yulo, kaisa ang PSC at ang Office of the President.
Kasunod nito, sa Twitter ibinahagi ng singer-activist na si Jim Paredes nitong Linggo ng umaga ang video ng winning moves ni Yulo sa floor exercise final.
Tweet ni Jim: “He can really give us our first Gold sa Olympics. What a performance. Listen to the announcers…”
Carlos Edriel Yulo (PHI) - FX Final, Gold - WC Stuttgart https://t.co/wX1GhH6oTM via @YouTube He can really give us our first Gold sa Olympics. What a performance. Listen to the announcers...
— Jim (@Jimparedes) October 13, 2019
Para naman sa broadcast-journalist na si Jeff Canoy, nakatutuwang mapakinggan—sa unang pagkakataon sa isang world championship—ang “Lupang Hinirang,” at ang video nito ang ni-retweet niya nitong Linggo ng umaga.
“Oh man. What a feat. And to hear the national anthem,” bahagi ng tweet ni Jeff. “Carlos Yulo is a ray of sunlight.”
Oh man. What a feat. And to hear the national anthem. Carlos Yulo is a ray of sunlight. ???????? https://t.co/08M6U9dDkt
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) October 12, 2019
Sang-ayon naman si Direk Joey sa obserbasyon ni Jeff, at inamin ng direktor na paulit-ulit niyang pinanood ang video ng pagtugtog ng ating Pambansang Awit sa naturang kumpetisyon.
Even if I have seen the video a number of times, it still brings tears to hear our national anthem played for the 1st time at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championship. Carlos Yulo has brought such great pride at a time we needed it most.
— Joey Javier Reyes (@DirekJoey) October 13, 2019
ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL FROM NESTHY PETECIO
Pagsapit ng gabi, muling nag-tweet si Jeff upang ibalita ang pagkakasungkit ng Pilipinas ng isa pang gintong medalya—wagi ang 27-anyos na si Nesthy Petecio sa 2019 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships sa Ulan Ude, Russia nitong Linggo.
Tweet ni Jeff: “First Carlos Yulo. And now Nesthy Petecio. What a great day for PH Sports. (Philippine flag)
“Mahirap makita minsan, pero nananatiling duyan ng mga magigiting.”
First Carlos Yulo. And now Nesthy Petecio. What a great day for PH Sports. ????????
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) October 13, 2019
Mahirap makita minsan. Pero nanatiling duyan ng mga magigiting. https://t.co/6r01uHvVDJ
Tinalo ni Nesthy ang Russian na si Liudmila Vorontsova sa split decision.
Kaugnay ng magkasunod na tagumpay na ito sa Philippine sports—dalawang gold medal sa loob ng 24 oras—inihayag ng PSC ngayong Lunes na magbibigay ito ng tig-P1 million incentive kina Yulo at Petecio.