Gold medallist Carlos Edriel Yulo of Philippines celebrates on the podium. —Amanda Perobelli
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mixed up bemedalled Olympic gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo for Carlos Loyzaga, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in the country, as both share the same nickname “Caloy.”
Marcos on Wednesday said he will consult the gymnast to ask what can the government do to increase the country’s chances of winning more gold medals.
READ: Marcos to Carlos Yulo: How can we get more medals in Olympics?
However, Marcos mistakes Yulo for Loyzaga, who was also a two-time Olympian. Loyzaga, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 85, was inducted to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Hall of Fame last year.
“Do we have to change the organization, do we have to, How it needs to be funded, si Caloy Loyzaga is going to—” Marcos said, before he was interrupted by reporters, who reminded him that it was Yulo they were talking about.
READ: Filipino legend Caloy Loyzaga inducted into Fiba Hall of Fame
“Ay, sorry!,” Marcos said, which was met with good-natured laughter from the press. “—Caloy Yulo. I think he will continue to [reach] greater heights in sports … and again, I think he will be the best person to ask what else is needed.”
Yulo, 24, clinched his first gold on Saturday and his second on Sunday, becoming the second Filipino athlete to earn the Olympic gold medal.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first-ever gold medal during the Tokyo Olympics in 2022.