“I’m even more eager to return to gymnastics and competitions.” Just as this Filipino gymnastics phenom was about to make his fiery comeback after a 10-month-long hiatus, he sent this message. Those words, spoken by Carlos Yulo earlier this year, carried the weight of everything he had endured—from Olympic victory and emotional fallout with family to a mental health struggle that forced him to step away from the sport he dominated. But now, as he sets the stage for a comeback, one person stands by him—not just giving a nudge of support, but reminding Carlos of who he truly is.

In his fiery comeback, Carlos Yulo made a triumphant return to competition by winning, that’s right! Not one, but he bagged four medals at the 2025 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Jecheon, South Korea, from June 5 to 8, 2025. This was his first official event since his double Olympic win in Paris last year. This success became even sweeter with the 25-year-old’s girlfriend, content creator and musical artist Chloe San Jose, penning a heartfelt message for him.

Celebrating her partner’s win, Chloe took to social media on June 8 to pen a message that would stay with the fans. The Instagram post included a carousel of pictures of the couple. She writes, “My mahal, my champion—as you step onto the floor again, know that my heart is with you, always,” Chloe wrote on Instagram on June 8th, 2025. In her message to Carlos Yulo, Chloe also expressed gratitude for being a part of his journey.

“You are more than an athlete—you are a living testament to grace under pressure, strength guided by purpose, and love led by the faith you carry; not just in your body, but in your spirit. Thank you for showing the world what quiet strength and unwavering dedication look like. And I thank the universe every day for the blessing of witnessing your journey up close,” Chloe wrote further.  “I celebrate your victory and the fire that burns so brightly in you. I’m so so proud of you and will always be cheering for you—not just as an athlete, but as the man that you are,” his proud girlfriend wrote.

“Congratulations, dada,” she concluded her post, accompanied by a Philippine flag and gold medal emojis. Yulo responded with the same amount of love and wrote, “I love you, mahal ko.” He showed no rust even after a 10-month hiatus as he aced the floor exercise final with ease in the 2025 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships. He has kept on receiving honors and accolades, but does that mean he never had struggles? Of course he did. But he had his girlfriend standing strong like a pillar with him.

Carlos Yulo and Chloe have faced many storms together

Family feuds can be tough, and Yulo understands this all too well. Right after his Olympic win in Paris, Yulo found himself in the midst of a controversy involving his mother. Naturally, as part of his victory campaign, he received several gifts and accolades from his country after the win. For starters, he was gifted 10 million Philippine pesos ($172,519 USD as per CNBC) by the Philippine government. Private companies and universities had also lined up to reward Yulo. 

The rift between him and his mother, Angelica Yulo, began when Yulo decided to leave Tokyo to settle in Manila with his girlfriend, Chloe Anjeleigh San Jose. The tension grew when Yulo claimed that his mother had been managing his bank account and using funds without his knowledge. He later alleged, with supporting bank statements, that a significant portion of his earnings and incentives had been withdrawn without his consent.

Yulo had said in The Manila Bulletin from September 11th, 2024, “Apart from the incentives, my mom also had access to my bank account and my monthly allowances for gymnastics. When I finally got control of that bank account, I found out she had been draining it. I have the bank statements showing the withdrawals she made.”

 “The principle here isn’t the amount, but about the fact that incentives were hidden and used without my consent,” Carlos added. However, Angelica denied these allegations. While speaking to Bombo Radyo in August 2024, Angelica defended her actions. She explained that she transferred money from Carlos’s account to her own for the safety of her son’s future.

However, there was one person who stood by him through all this. It was Chloe San Jose. According to The Filipino Times, during his acceptance speech at the Philippine Sportswriters Association awards night back in February 2025, he revealed his love for San Jose. Yulo was named Athlete of the Year and grabbed the opportunity to thank his girlfriend. “To my beautiful partner, Chloe, thank you for taking care of my mental health,” he said in per VNE Express publication in February 2025.  Fast forward to June 2025, and all seems well with him and his girlfriend as they celebrate his recent win. What do you think about this comeback?