More than 400 athletes across 38 sports flew to Japan to compete at the recently concluded 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. After two weeks of competition, the result was the country’s biggest medal haul at the Asian Games since the 1966 edition in Bangkok, with Team Philippines taking home 29 medals, including 4 gold medals, matching the country’s 2023 haul.
As with any competition, this year’s Asian Games had its record-breaking moments, heartbreaking losses, and displays of Filipino sportsmanship. Regardless of placement, the athletes did the country proud, and among the delegation are those who went above and beyond with their athletic prowess.
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Carlos Yulo Flips and Spins His Way to Two Gold Medals
If there was a main character of Team Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games, it was arguably Carlos Yulo. Heading into the competition, many saw the two-time Olympic gold medalist as a favorite to win his first-ever medal at the Games, and that’s exactly what he did with not one, but two gold medals.
The gymnast earned his first gold in men’s floor exercise with a score of 14.666, making it the country’s first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. Later on, with a final score of 14.599, Yulo bagged his second medal in vault, thus becoming responsible for half of the country’s gold medal haul this year.
EJ Obiena Earns Back-to-Back Gold Medals
Asian Games defending champion EJ Obiena showed up in Japan ready to make history. He earned his second consecutive gold medal in pole vaulting at the Asian Games after clearing 5.75 meters. Obiena then went one step above by breaking his own record at the Games with a height of 5.91 meters in front of a thrilled crowd at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, and while it was raining, no less. He entered the competition as the defending champion and reigning Games record holder, and he left still being so.
Eldrew Yulo Goes for Bronze
As the younger brother of Carlos Yulo, Eldrew Yulo had a lot to live up to. But despite the pressures of his last name and the fact that it was his debut at the Asian Games, the 18-year-old gymnast impressed by scoring a podium finish with a bronze medal in the men’s horizontal bar final. The younger Yulo sibling also finished 7th in the floor exercise and all-around finals. It was one thing to see the Yulo brothers compete on the same team, but the fact that they both earned medals made this family affair even better.
Alex Eala Wins Her Second Asian Games Medal
While Alex Eala did not win a gold medal in tennis as many hoped she would, the Filipina athlete still left Japan with new hardware in the form of a bronze medal in Women’s Singles Tennis. Winning and losing is still part of the game, and as Eala has proven, losses come with lessons to learn. And regardless of what some may say, taking home bronze is still worth celebrating.
Victoria Bossong Ends a Three-Decade Drought in Athletics
Most may not have heard of Victoria Bossong prior to the Asian Games, but she entered the competition with an impressive resume and background. The Filipino-American graduated from Harvard with a degree in neuroscience and a secondary in global health. She has also competed in track and field for several years.
During her debut at the 2026 Asian Games representing the Philippines, Bossong sprinted her way to a podium finish and earned a bronze medal in the women’s 800-meter final with a time of 2:05.34. In doing so, she became the first Filipina to win a medal in athletics at the Asian Games in 32 years. Harvard-educated, Asian Games medalist, and medical school on the horizon? Victoria Bossong is an athlete to watch.
Kayla Sanchez Breaks a National Record, Twice
It was unfortunate that Kayla Sanchez wasn’t able to make it to the podium at the Asian Games. But the top swimmer gave it her all, and there were still wins she can proudly take with her. Most notably, she broke the national record in the women’s 50-meter backstroke during the preliminaries at 28.24 seconds. Then, Sanchez did it again during the finals with a time of 28.19 seconds, making her the only athlete from the country’s delegation to have broken a Philippine record twice in the same event.
Albert Ian Delos Santos Takes Home Bronze in Weightlifting
The 2026 Asian Games introduced many young athletes with potential to have on your radar. One such name is Albert Ian Delos Santos. The 20-year-old weightlifter was already building a reputation as one of the most promising Filipino names in the sport. And he added to it when he won bronze in the men’s 70kg division in his debut at the Asian Games. Adding to the feat was how his combined lift of 324kg set new junior world and junior Asian records in the clean and jerk and total lift.
The Philippines Win Five Medals From Taekwondo
Among all the sports at the Asian Games, Taekwondo proved to be a particularly bright spot for Team Philippines with one gold, three silvers, and one bronze won by the country’s athletes for a total of five medals. Among the medalists, the most decorated is Jeus Yape, who won bronze in men’s individual poomsae, which he then upgraded to a gold as champion of the inaugural mixed individual virtual taekwondo event at the Asian Games.
It marked the country’s fourth and final gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, as well as the nation’s first gold medal it has ever won in taekwondo. As such, it was fitting that Yape served as the Philippines’ flagbearer during the closing ceremony.
Bonus: EJ Obiena and Alex Eala Hit the Tennis Court
@alex.eala With the GOAT🇵🇭 @EJ Obiena ♬ Akala – Parokya Ni Edgar
While they understandably never competed in the same event, it was still fun seeing EJ Obiena and Alex Eala hang out after the competition, where they played a friendly game of tennis and even filmed a TikTok video together. That’s just two of the most famous Filipino athletes in the world casually spending their free time together. Also, the fact that Obiena flew back to Japan to cheer on his fellow athletes after he had already flown to the Philippines following the pole vaulting competition was very big-brotherly of him.
Featured Image: ALEX EALA (via Instagram)
Photos: CARLOS YULO (via Instagram), ERNEST OBIENA (via Instagram), ASIAN GYMNASTICS UNION (via Instagram), ALEX EALA (via Instagram), PHILIPPINE OLYMPICS COMMITTEE (via Instagram), KAYLA SANCHEZ (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
More than 400 athletes across 38 sports competed, and Team Philippines won 29 medals, including four golds, matching its 2023 gold total. MEGA reports it as the country’s biggest Asian Games haul in decades.
Carlos Yulo won two golds: men’s floor exercise with a score of 14.666, the country’s first gold of the Games, and vault with 14.599. Together they account for half of the Philippines’ four golds.
EJ Obiena won his second straight Asian Games pole vault gold after clearing 5.75 meters, then cleared 5.91 meters to break his own Games record, in the rain at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
Victoria Bossong is a Filipino-American runner and Harvard graduate in neuroscience. She won bronze in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:05.34, per MEGA the first Filipina to win an Asian Games athletics medal in 32 years.
Jeus Yape won gold in the inaugural mixed individual virtual taekwondo event, after earlier taking bronze in men’s individual poomsae. It was the country’s fourth and final gold of the Games, and Yape carried the flag at the closing ceremony.
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