Coach Aldrin: Caloy “hits jackpot” after winning two golds in Paris

Sports

Jackpot.

That’s how the coach of Carlos Yulo described the double-gold performance of the diminutive gymnast in the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Cebu City native Allen Aldrin Castañeda finally got to talk about Yulo’s remarkable performance in the Games when he and other members of Team Philippines arrived from Paris the other day.

Castañeda said Yulo came into the competition determined to win one goal.

Castañeda said when Yulo went on to win the gold via the floor exercise in the men’s artistic gymnastics, the bull-strong athlete couldn’t contain his happiness.

“Unang gold namin talagang naiyak siya,” Castañeda said when interviewed by the reporters shortly after they Team Philippines’ arriva at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Yulo’s Paris campaign became more memorablle when he snagged another gold by winning the vault event.

Castañeda said winning two gold was a big bonus.

“Hindi inasahan. Kasama sa plano is isa lang okay na eh yung pangalawa pag ibibigay pa ni Lord, jackpot na,” Castañeda added.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced during the Team Philippines’ grand homecoming that each Filipino Olympian will get P1 million each. Coaches will also each get P500,000.

For winning two golds, Yulo will also receive P20 million through a law that rewards cash incentives for every gold won in the Olympics.

Castañeda will also get cash rewards equivalent to 50 percent of Yulo’s cash incentives.

“Masaya. Malaki talagang pera,” a visibly ecstatic Castañeda said.

Castañeda will have his own rousing homecoming as the Cebu City government is planning to give him a hero’s welcome. The city also plans to reward the Barangay Hipodromo resident a cash reward.

Castañeda said Yulo will take a break before going back to the training.

“Off season muna kami ngayon. After one or two months, balik na,” Castañeda said.(CCM)