Olympic gold medalist 'splits from his mum' after huge row over his girlfriend

An Olympic gold medalist from Paris 2024 has been involved in a row with his mother amid winning two gymnastics events.

Philippines gymnast Carlos Yulo became the first person to win multiple Olympic gold medals for his country when he succeeded in the men's floor exercise and vault events earlier this week.

The 24-year-old is therefore his country's most successful athlete of all time - and will reportedly be rewarded accordingly by the Philippines government.

He is set to be given a cash bonus of £273,000, while sponsors have pledged to award him a new home and a lifetime of free buffet meals.

But there has been spotlight on Yulo away from the Games - in particular on his relationship with his mother.

In a TikTok video posted earlier this week, the 24-year-old accused his mother of 'judging' his girlfriend, Filipino model Chloe Anjeleigh San Jose.

He claims that his mother tried to 'set boundaries' for the pair, and added: "My mother judged Chloe right away because of how she dressed and acted.

"Chloe and I grew up in different environments. Chloe grew up in Australia, and that's the culture she knows. It's very different from how we move, talk and dress in the Philippines.

"Chloe has her own income. Everything you see her using and all her travels come from her hard work. Ever since the beginning, she didn't like Chloe, even though she hadn't met or seen her in person."

The video has received over 19.5 million views and 2.4 million likes since being posted on Tuesday.

What sparked that particular video from Yulo appears to have been an interview that his mother gave to a local radio station shortly after the 24-year-old won his second gold medal on Sunday.

It had been alleged that Ms Yulo had mismanaged her son's money, but said she hadn't and had instead deposited it at a bank in Manila, as well as receiving money on her son's behalf.

Her son accused her of taking money out of his accounts after the 2022 World Gymnastics Championships, stating: "I have statements that show all of her withdrawal."

He also claimed he had never received that past prize money.

In response to the Olympic gold medalist's TikTok video, his mother then called a press conference in which she said she was not after her son's money and said that 'rapid questions' from media prevented her from thinking clearly.

She said (via BBC News): "This has reached an alarming level. Now, the entire country is waiting for what each of us will say next, when this matter should have been kept private.

"I am not a perfect mother, and God knows that you are not a perfect son. There is no perfect family."

"As a mother, I was worried that my child might have financial problems in the future, so I invested it under my name," she added.

"Son, I am sorry. I understand some may think I'm only speaking now because of your success. I ask for your forgiveness as a concerned mother. You are mature enough to make your decisions.

"Our door is always open, regardless of your financial status. I can't take back my words, but your father and I are ready to talk with understanding whenever you're ready to come home and resolve this."