How breakdancing fueled a young Carlos Yulo to start dreaming

For athletes, it all starts with a dream. And for Carlos Yulo, no dream is too small or too big.

Yulo began aspiring to see himself competing at the most prestigious sporting event in the globe when he watched the 2012 London Olympics. He was just 12 years old at the time.

Seeing the athletes compete at the highest level sparked something within Yulo.

From there on, Yulo worked hard day in and day out and chased his Olympic dream, winning two gold medals in the process after ruling the floor exercise and vault in the 2024 Paris Olympics to give the nation pride and honor.

"Nu'ng 2012 po kasi, first time ko manood ng Olympics and then du'n po talaga, sabi ko gusto ko rin maging kagaya nila mag-compete sa ganitong level," Yulo shared in a GMA Integrated News Interview with Pia Arcangel on 24 Oras.

"At siyempre, makakuha po ng gold medal at du'n po talaga ako nag-start mangarap."

Aside from witnessing athletes in the 2012 Summer Games, Yulo shared that his, his cousins and friends' interest in breakdancing prompted him to try the skills, which are relatively similar to that of gymnastics — tumbling, jumping, and flipping.

They would attempt to do the skills in a playground near the Manila Zoo, but Yulo said he did not actually venture into breakdancing as he would be discovered by Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) later on.

"Uso po before 'yung breakdancing eh, sa mga fiesta fiesta po nagtatambling po so kami pong magpipinsan, kaibigan, nag-try po kami sa playground sa tapat ng Manila Zoo," he added.

"And palagi po kami dinadala dun ng lolo ko. Du'n kami nagtatry hanggang du'n kami natuto ng basic."

GAP president Cynthia Carrion recalled seeing the passion and potential in the young Yulo, making her believe that investing in him is worth the move for the federation. 

"When I met him, of course he just wanted to learn to tumble tumble. And when I see him I could see the passion in his eyes and he doesn't even have a coach," Carrion shared. 

 "I said this boy is really... I asked him to join Batang Pinoy. He is 12 years and under, he has no coach and he won medals."

Yulo's tenacity and GAP's faith now bore fruit for the Philippine gymnastics and they are hoping to do more in the future. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News