Carlo Paalam

Early life Paalam was born on July 16, 1998, in Talakag, Bukidnon. He spent some time of his childhood in Balingoan, Misamis Oriental. His mother left his father after a failed marriage when Carlo was just six years old. After the estrangement, Carlo Paalam, his father and siblings left Balingoan for Cagayan de Oro for better opportunities. Paalam then worked as a scavenger at a landfill in the city. His neighbor encouraged him to join a local tournament known as "Boxing at the Park" after seeing him in a backyard boxing match. He won his first boxing match at age 7 and used his winnings to buy rice for his family. He took part in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, but did not medal.

He bagged gold medals in the ASTANA/President's Cup in Kazakhstan in 2017, 10th AIBA International Boxing Tournament, and 1st Thailand International Boxing Tournament in 2018. He pulled a victory by a split decision against Irish flyweight boxer Brendan Irvine and advanced to the Round 16 Quarterfinals. He then won by a Unanimous Decision against World Championship Silver and bronze medalist Mohamed Flissi of Algeria. He then pulled an upset victory against reigning Olympic gold medalist Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan by a 4–1 split decision as the fight was halted due to both fighters having cuts and injuries while fighting. Paalam advances to the semifinals against Ryomei Tanaka of Japan. Paalam would defeat Tanaka by a unanimous decision (5–0) to advance to the gold medal match against British boxer Galal Yafai. Paalam fought Yafai in the finals of the men's flyweight event but lost to a 4–1 split decision. He became the fourth medalist to bring home an olympic medal for the Philippines at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo as he brought home a silver medal in the men's flyweight boxing event.

Olympic Games results Tokyo – 2020 (Men's Flyweight) Round of 32: Defeated Brendan Irvine (Ireland) by SD, 4–1 Round of 16: Defeated Mohamed Flissi (Algeria) by UD, 5–0 Quarterfinal: Defeated Shakhobidin Zoirov (Uzbekistan) by SD, 4–1 Semifinal: Defeated Ryomei Tanaka (Japan) by UD, 5–0 Final: Lost against Galal Yafai (Great Britain) by SD, 1–4 (won silver medal)

Paris - 2024 (Men's 57 Kg) Round of 32: Drew Bye Round of 16: Defeated Jude Gallagher (Ireland) by UD, 5-0 Quarterfinal: Lost against Charlie Senior (Australia) by SD, 2-3

In popular media Paalam's life leading to his silver medal win in the 2020 Summer Olympics was dramatized in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, a drama anthology series, aired on January 8, 2022. He was portrayed by CJ Navato.