Philippines closes out Paris Olympics as back-to-back best Southeast Asian team

For the second straight time, the Philippines emerged as the best Southeast Asian team in the Olympics after closing out Paris 2024 with four medals. 

The country wrapped up the Summer Games at the 37th spot with two gold medals from Carlos Yulo, who ruled the men's floor exercise and vault, and two bronze courtesy of boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas. 

The Philippines bested its Southeast Asian neighbors with Indonesia coming in close at 39th spot with similar two gold medals, one each from gymnastics and boxing, and a bronze in the 800m event of athletics. 

Thailand is at 44th spot with a six-medal haul, bagging one gold in taekwondo courtesy of back-to-back Olympic champion Panipak Wongpattanakit. The Thais also bagged two silvers from weightlifting and another in badminton while also taking home one bronze each in boxing and weightlifting. 

Malaysia wound up 80th with two bronze medals from badminton, followed by Singapore at 84th spot with one bronze in the sailing event. 

This is the second consecutive time that the Philippines topped the region as it also earned the distinction back in the Tokyo Olympics, where the Philippines seaied one gold, two silvers, and one bronze. 

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino praised the delegation after the feat, which also saw the country tally its best Olympic finish in 100 years of participation. 

“We’re the best performer in Southeast Asian and No. 7 in Asia,” Tolentino said. 

“We’ve gone quality in Paris—in gymnastics, a blue-chip sport. And looking at the SEA Games countries, we outperformed our closest neighbors.”

—JKC, GMA Integrated News