Metro Manila, Philippines — What an unforgettable year it was for Philippine sports, one of the greatest seasons in history.

Filipino athletes soared to unprecedented heights and set new standards in their disciplines.

Here are the top sports personalities who made the country proud in 2024:

Defying gravity

There is no doubt that Carlos Yulo is the star that shined brightest this year after a historic stint at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The 24-year-old gymnast champion ruled the men’s floor exercise and vault to become the Philippines’ first Olympic double gold medalist and first Filipino athlete to win multiple medals in a single Summer Games.

Despite parting ways with his longtime Japanese coach, Yulo rose above the challenges and cemented his status as the greatest Filipino Olympian yet.

With his incredible feat, his incentives from the government and private sector breached the ₱100-million mark.

Good jab

An Olympic boxing gold remained elusive for the country, but the chances of capturing one is getting nearer.

Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas joined Yulo in leading the country to its best Olympic campaign after bagging one bronze each in Paris.

Petecio became the first Filipino boxer to win multiple Olympic medals, while Villegas was spectacular in her Summer Games debut.

The Philippines has sustained its momentum in the sport after bagging three boxing medals in Tokyo 2020.

The last time the country went on a boxing medal streak in the Olympics was in the 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona, and 1996 Atlanta Games.

On cue

Rubilen Amit showed why she is one of the best billiards players the country produced after snagging the WPA Women's World 9-Ball Championship title.

The 42-year-old outclassed China’s Siming Chen, 3-1, in the best-of-five finals.

Her victory came more than a decade after winning two world 10-ball championships in 2009 and 2013, proving that she is still a force to be reckoned with in the sport.

Amit nabbed the top prize of $50,000 (about ₱2.8 million).

Meanwhile, Carlo Biado solidified his place among the Philippine billiards legends after winning the WPA Predator World 10-Ball Championship title.

He defeated Japanese Naoyuki Oi, 3-1, in their finals showdown.

Aside from taking home the $75,000 (about ₱4.2 million) prize, Biado has added the trophy to his collection that also includes a world 9-ball championship in 2017 and the US Open crown in 2021.

Standing tall

Building on the gains it got in its Asian Games gold medal run last year, Gilas Pilipinas scored a huge upset victory over then-world No. 6 Latvia in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

This marked the first time in 64 years that the Philippines beat a European team in a FIBA-sanctioned game.

Though failing to secure an Olympic spot, the Philippines earned the respect of Georgia in a tight clash and eventual Olympic qualifiers champion Brazil in their semifinals encounter.

Gilas was also solid in its FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers second window campaign after stunning New Zealand and dominating Hong Kong to clinch a spot in the continental tournament happening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

How sweep it is

The country remained the gold standard in the Land of Dawn after Fnatic ONIC Philippines dominated Team Liquid ID, 4-1, in the grand finals to claim the M6 World Championship title.

The M World Championship is the biggest competition in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang scene.

ONIC was simply unstoppable in the prestigious tournament and went undefeated to secure the crown.

ONIC’s gold laner Duane “Kelra” Pillas was named Finals Most Valuable Player.

This was the Philippines’ fifth straight title in the M-Series.