Meet Fil-Brit Olympic bronze medalist in gymnastics Jake Jarman

Photo from Jake Jarman/Instagram

Men’s artistic gymnastics in the 2024 Paris Olympics has won the hearts of the audiences worldwide, especially within the Filipino community, not only with athletic prowess but also with charm and on-screen personality.

As everyone celebrated Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo’s historic double gold medal win in the floor exercise and vault finals, netizens were also buzzing about other standout gymnasts.

China’s Zhang Boheng garnered admiration, with even Filipino commentators noting his good looks. Great Britain’s Harry Hepworth, the bronze medalist in the vault finals, also drew attention, but it was his teammate, Filipino British bronze medalist in floor exercise Jake Jarman, who truly stole the spotlight.

Dubbed the “silly king” by the internet for his endearing expressions whenever the camera caught him, some fans even remarked that his behavior was “Filipino coded.”

Here are some of the most talked-about moments of Jarman during the Olympics finals, along with some facts to help you get to know him better.

‘What’s going on’

Representing Great Britain, 22-year-old gymnast Jake Jarman has Filipino roots through his mother, Ana Jarman, who hails from Cebu.

In a now-expired Instagram story, he responded to a question about his heritage by sharing a childhood photo of himself wearing a “Jake loves Cebu” shirt.

Recently, photos of Jarman’s time in Cebu have circulated online. His preschool teacher, Anne Gallo-Sim, posted a congratulatory letter addressing him for his podium finish, describing the Olympian as always “full of energy packed in a petite frame,” with a mind and heart “big beyond measure.”

This energy was captured in one of Jarman’s adorable moments during the awarding ceremony, which was edited by an X (formerly Twitter) user to show him trying to figure out what was going on. Fans flooded the comments, calling him cute and a “baby boy.”

Jake jarman vs trying to figure out what’s going on

( made by me) #Paris2024 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/FWaamZm6Qt

— court | ARVID HISTORY MAKER🏆🫶🏻 (@bfcvesti) August 3, 2024

‘You can’t not love him’

His Instagram stories reveal a relatable side. Outside the gymnastics floor, he’s a boy full of life, appreciating all the big and little moments in his life right now.

After winning the medal, he proudly showcased it in his stories, expressing his amazement with, “that is so cool. Crazy, crazy.” In another story, he shared a goofy selfie with the medal, captioned, “oh my gosh” with a crying emoji.

you can’t not love him 😭 pic.twitter.com/fECI0ovKdR

— josephine (@ringleaps) August 3, 2024

But beyond his fun side lies a serious athlete with a gymnastics move named after him, “The Jarman,” a 3.5-twisting double layout officially recognized at the 2023 Paris World Challenge Cup.

‘So Filipino coded’

Whenever he sees a camera, he looks at it, flashes a smile, and waves—perhaps not exclusively a Filipino trait, but something many Filipinos instinctively do in the same situation.

JAKE JARMAN IS SO FILIPINO CODED HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA pic.twitter.com/CSrh2iOnoF

— bakon (@flavourlesself) August 3, 2024

Moreover, in an interview, Jarman expressed interest in representing the Philippines at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and teaming up with Yulo.

According to a report by Olympics.com, Yulo received an invitation to train at the British gymnastics training center in Lilleshall, where he trained alongside Jarman.

Carlos Yulo 🇵🇭 is training with the British team at Lilleshall! pic.twitter.com/C87nC0q3Yz

— Craig Tilley 🇺🇦 (@CraigTilley95) February 22, 2024

Well, to fuel the anticipation, Jarman got himself a Philippine pin!

Truly, Jarman’s energy amid a pool of competitive athletes is a breath of fresh air. With his Filipino heritage and charming personality, he has made a significant impact, endearing himself to fans both within the Filipino community and around the globe.