Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Carlos Yulo has finally received his prize from Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP). At a simple turnover ceremony today witnessed by hundreds of TMP employees at the carmaker’s Laguna plant, a brand-new white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was given to our most decorated athlete. The turnover was led by TMP president Masando Hashimoto and vice chairman Dr. David Go.
After Yulo bagged two gold medals in a span of 24 hours at this year’s Paris Olympics, prizes from a grateful nation flooded in. TMP announced it will give our top Olympian a Land Cruiser Prado, currently the most in-demand Toyota in the country. The prize was originally going to be two Toyotas—a Zenix and a Corolla Cross—but it was eventually upgraded to a Land Cruiser Prado that costs more than those two models combined.
Yulo chose a Pearl White color, one of only three available hues for the local Prado. We were able to have a brief chat with him on the sidelines of the 2024 Summer Paralympics, also in Paris, where Yulo was a special guest. He said he’s already excited to go on road trips with his new ride.
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This prize is extra special because Yulo is part of Toyota’s ‘Start Your Impossible’ campaign, its first global corporate initiative announced in April 2024. Toyota chose 11 athletes in the region to be Team Toyota Asia representatives. Included countries are India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. From the Philippines, we have two ambassadors: Carlos Yulo and Paralympics swimmer Ernie Gawilan.
Yulo is the most decorated athlete in the Start Your Impossible campaign. Another gold medalist is Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, a mountain of a man who won in the javelin throw competition and also set an Olympic record in the process.
“Thank you, Caloy, for being an inspiration. Like the Prado, you are legendary in every way. We hope the Prado will move your world and help you achieve even more,” shared Hashimoto during his speech. He added that Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Chairman Akio Toyoda is “very proud of him and all the athletes who pushed themselves to achieve the impossible.”
“I know this gift isn’t just about me. It’s about this community that has been cheering me on,” Yulo shared during his acceptance speech. “Toyota, I am so grateful to be a part of your team, this leading brand, this community, and I hope that this gift will inspire others to also chase their own dreams and never give up.”
Again, congratulations and thank you for all you’ve done, Carlos!
