Fil-Brit Olympic medalist Jake Jarman gives shout-out to Filipino fans

Filipino British gymnast Jake Jarman won bronze in the floor exercise finals, but his charm made it feel like a gold medal for his Filipino fans. Image:.jake_e_j/Instagram

For many Filipinos deeply invested in the 2024 Paris Olympics, watching Carlos Yulo, the Philippines’ very own two-time Olympic gold medalist for gymnastics, was an exhilarating yet heartwarming experience. But it was even more special because they were also cheering on his friend, who happens to be half Filipino.

Even though Filipino British gymnast Jake Jarman won bronze in the floor exercise finals, his charm made it feel like a gold medal for his Filipino fans.

With over 356,000 Instagram followers and more than 24,700 members on his broadcast channel, Jarman, who attended preschool in Lahug, Cebu, from ages three to five, took a moment to acknowledge his new Filipino followers.

On his broadcast channel, “Da Homiez,” he wrote, “So according to Instagram, about 7% of all my followers are from the Philippines. Big up my Filipino followers,” accompanied by a heart sign and a Philippine flag.

Filipino fans quickly responded, showing their enthusiasm with the national flag emoji, which as of writing, has garnered 2,704 reactions.

“This channel has grown into quite the group,” he added. “There’s a lot of people here. A lot. Of people. A lot of people who are reading what I type. Crazy,” the Olympian jested, sharing a close-up selfie of his amazed and shocked expression, showing the fun personality that many of his fans adore.

Since then, his Filipino followers have been reacting with the Philippine flag emoji whenever he posts updates.

The 22-year-old Jarman, whose mother Ana Jarman is from Cebu, described the Summer Games as a “truly unforgettable time.”

“I’ve enjoyed every single moment and have been truly amazed and taken aback by the support I’ve received over the past few weeks,” he said. “I can’t express enough how grateful I am for the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. Thank you for making these games the best time ever.”

While Jarman has expressed interest in representing the Philippines in the future, it may not happen at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. In a recent interview, he mentioned that although it would be amazing, he plans to stay with his team in Great Britain for the next four years.