Two resolutions have been filed at the House of Representatives commending Carlos Edriel Yulo for winning the first ever gold medal in the 49th FIG (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique) Artistic Gymnastics World Championship and Nesthy Petecio also for winning the gold medal in the 2019 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships held in Ulan-Ude, Russia.
Yulo clinched the gold for the Philippines with 15.300 rating on Oct. 12, 2019. His score was enough to fend off top rivals Artem Dolgopyat of Israel and China’s Xiao Ruoteng.
Earlier on Oct. 7, 2019, Yulo also booked the country’s second Olympic slot in the 2020 Tokyo Games coming after Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena who sealed his own Olympic ticket last September.
HRs 437 and 438, authored by Rep. Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque, said commended the two athletes for bringing "honor and glory to the Filipino nation."
In HR 437, Velasco noted that Yulo, at a very young age of 19, was the youngest competitor at Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart, Germany and is also the first Filipino ever to occupy a podium spot at the championships with his bronze medal last year.
Velasco said the 4-foot-11 gymnastics phenom, who trained in Tokyo, Japan with Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, rendered a world class performance in the floor exercise of the competition.
“Yulo’s performance is a true showcase of each and every Filipino athlete’s ‘puso’ and will serve as an inspiration for present and future generations of Filipino athletes to aspire for greater success in the world stage,” Velasco said.
“Yulo’s victory in the world championship is the victory of the Filipino nation and shall serve as a good platform for his preparations in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,” Velasco's resolution stated.
The next day after Yulo's gold, on October 13, 2019, Petecio bagged a split decision victory over her Russian counterpart Liudmila Vorontsova in the final of the 2019 Aiba Women’s World Boxing Championships at FSK Sports Complex at Ulan-Ude, Russia.
“Her magnificent feat secured her a gold medal finish in the featherweight division of the world tournament,” Velasco said.
Petecio, who hurdled England’s Karris Artingstall in the semifinals, outclassed her Russian rival in the women’s featherweight class despite the latter’s hometown advantage.
In HR 438, Velasco noted that Petecio, who is a 3-time Southeast Asian Games silver medalist, had to get past five opponents before facing off against Vorontsova in the final.
“Nesthy Petecio’s performance in the world championship lights an even greater fire in the hearts of all Filipino women athletes who are preparing for and will compete in the Southeast Asian Games that will take place here in Manila next month,” the resolution said.