Manila, Philippines —
He’s known for his gravity-defying flips, world-class routines, and unshakable composure on the mat. But behind the gold medals and proud flag-waving moments, Carlos “Caloy” Yulo quietly endured one of the darkest, most painful chapters of his young life — one that nearly pushed him to the brink of ending it all.
In an emotional interview aired over the weekend, the 24-year-old Olympic gymnast bravely opened up about a private battle with mental and emotional exhaustion, shocking fans who have long seen him as a symbol of strength and perfection.
“There was a time when I truly asked myself: ‘What am I doing all this for?’” Carlos admitted, his voice cracking.
“I was tired. Empty. And yes… I thought about ending it.”
💔 BEYOND THE PODIUM: THE PAIN NOBODY SAW
According to Yulo, his breaking point came sometime in late 2023, after back-to-back international competitions and what he described as “crushing pressure to be perfect.”
Despite his victories, Carlos said he felt invisible, unheard, and overworked, far from family, and burdened by the overwhelming expectations of a nation hungry for gold.
“I was winning, but I wasn’t happy. I would go back to my room and just stare at the ceiling… numb.”
“Everyone wanted the gymnast. No one asked about the person.”
🧠 A SILENT BATTLE: MENTAL HEALTH IN SPORTS
The Philippines has long celebrated its athletic heroes, but mental health among elite athletes remains a taboo subject. For Carlos to speak up — and speak so openly — is being seen as both groundbreaking and courageous.
He revealed suffering from panic attacks, chronic sleeplessness, and even periods of disassociation, especially after a disappointing finish at one international event that drew criticism back home.
“All I saw were headlines saying I let the country down. No one knew I was already broken inside.”
🔁 A CYCLE OF SILENCE AND SUFFERING
Carlos confessed that the constant cycle of training, competing, and pretending to be okay took a massive toll on him — and he didn’t know how to ask for help.
“I thought being sad was weakness. So I kept hiding it. I smiled through interviews. I trained harder. But inside… I was gone.”
He admitted that one night in his Tokyo apartment, he sat alone and asked himself if quitting — or worse — was the only way out.
“I even wrote a goodbye letter. I don’t remember where I kept it. I was that far gone.”
🕊️ WHAT SAVED HIM?
Carlos says it wasn’t therapy or medals that pulled him back — it was a random message from a young fan.
“She messaged me: ‘Kuya Caloy, I want to be strong like you one day. You give me hope.’
I cried. I broke down. Because I didn’t feel strong — but someone believed I was.”
That message was the wake-up call he needed. The next day, Carlos said he called his mother and finally opened up about the pain he had been hiding for years.
🧡 TAKING CONTROL, FINDING PEACE
Since then, Carlos has taken proactive steps to protect his mental health. He now:
Sees a sports psychologist regularly
Includes “rest days” as non-negotiable in his training
Reads, journals, and limits social media exposure
And most importantly — talks openly with his family and friends
“Healing isn’t linear,” he said. “But I’m choosing to live now. Not just survive.”
📣 MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC: “ATHLETES ARE HUMAN, TOO”
Carlos hopes that by sharing his story, he can break the stigma around mental health in Philippine sports.
“You see us raise the flag, cry during the anthem — but you don’t see us cry in private.”
“Please, treat your heroes like people, not machines.”
He also urged fellow athletes to speak up, reach out, and never suffer in silence.
🕯️ FINAL WORD: FROM BREAKDOWN TO BREAKTHROUGH
Carlos Yulo’s story isn’t just one of medals — it’s a story of survival, rediscovery, and quiet courage. He could’ve chosen to disappear. But instead, he chose to stay — and now, he’s helping others stay, too.
“I almost gave up on myself,” he whispered.
“But the world didn’t give up on me. And I owe it to myself — and to that little girl who believed in me — to keep going.”
