Bretman Rock praises Carlos Yulo: ‘The Filipino GOAT of the Olympics’

Photo from bretmanrock/Instagram, c_edrielzxs/Instagram

From one Filipino pride to another, Filipino American social media sensation Bretman Rock recently shared his admiration for two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, expressing his hope that Yulo’s success will inspire more young Filipinos to pursue sports.

“Our king, the Filipino GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of the Olympics, Mr. Carlos Edriel Yulo,” Bretman proclaimed during a recent episode of his podcast, “DaBaddest Radio,” highlighting the historic achievement of the Filipino gymnast in the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics.

Yulo’s impressive performance on the Olympic stage, bagging two gold medals in two consecutive nights, has clearly struck a chord with Bretman, who was quick to commend the athlete’s hard work and dedication, much more that since then, the content creator has been championing Filipino heritage.

In fact, the Hawaii State Capitol awarded the Filipino-born, Hawaii-raised social media personality for his efforts in promoting both Hawaiian and Filipino American communities.

Bretman went on to express his anticipation of seeing the Olympian’s influence spread among the Filipino youth, particularly boys who may have previously felt discouraged from pursuing sports like gymnastics due to societal stereotypes.

“I can’t wait to see more kids wanting to do sports because of him, especially boys who were shamed to explore feminine sports like gymnastics being one of them,” Bretman added.

Bretman also reflected on the broader impact Filipino athletes are having on the global sports landscape, noting the significance of their achievements in traditionally gendered sports. He drew attention to how Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines’ first female Olympic gold medalist, triumphed in a male-dominated sport, while Yulo, a male gymnast, excelled in a field often associated with women.

“Filipinos are breaking the barrier everywhere we go,” Bretman said, underscoring the trailblazing roles these athletes are playing in redefining norms.

To add a personal touch, Bretman shared that he had sent Yulo a congratulatory message via Instagram, to which the gymnast responded with a humble, “Thank you so much po.”