The Philippines has emerged as the leading Southeast Asian nation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, with national athletes delivering a historic performance. The country secured two gold medals, both won by gymnast Carlos Yulo, and two bronze medals from boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio.
This marks the Philippines’ best-ever performance in the Olympics, surpassing its previous record from the Tokyo 2021 Games, where the nation won one gold, two silvers, and a bronze.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed his pride in the athletes, noting that the Philippines ranked No. 7 in Asia and tied for 35th overall in the medal standings alongside Hong Kong.
Yulo made history as the first Filipino athlete to win multiple medals in a single Olympics, claiming gold in both the vault and floor exercise in men’s artistic gymnastics. Petecio added to her Olympic legacy with a bronze, complementing the silver she won in Tokyo, while Villegas celebrated her Olympic debut with a bronze medal.
The Philippines outperformed its Southeast Asian neighbors, with Indonesia finishing second in the region with two gold medals and a bronze in badminton. Other SEA nations, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, trailed behind with fewer medals.
Yulo and Villegas will represent the Philippines during the closing ceremony, with the entire delegation expected to return home on Tuesday.
