By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Expect nothing but the best from Karl Eldrew Yulo as he shoots for the stars in the individual all-around finals of the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.
The 17-year-old rising star actually advanced to four finals after the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) qualifications last Thursday, Nov. 20, with three in the floor exercise, vault and horizontal bar, on top of his individual all-around berth.
But first things first – the all-around.
Yulo finished 15th among the 24 qualifiers, tallying 78.332 points behind top qualifiers Russian Arsenii Dukhno (82.065), China’s Yang Lanbin (80.698), and Japan’s Nao Ojima (80.631).
United States’ Danila Leykin (80.598) and Japan’s Simone Speranza (79.964) completed the Top 5.
Yulo was also one of only two Southeast Asian bets to make the cut, joining athletes from Singapore, Italy, France, Colombia, Great Britain, Ukraine, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Brazil and Hungary.
He anchored his all-around performance on a strong second-place finish in the floor exercise (14.233), fifth in vault (13.750), and sixth in horizontal bar (13.700).
He also scored 12.200 for 27th in still rings, and 12.666 for 28th in parallel bars.
Though reaching the finals is already a big achievement, Yulo refuses to slow down.
“My job is not yet finished. Gagalingan ko pa. Ibibigay ko pa ang 100 percent best ko… or more than 100 percent,” said Yulo.
He also shared how having his family, including his older brother, Paris Olympics double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, cheering for him in the stands has been a source of strength.
“Sobrang saya ko na andyan pamilya ko. Andyan si Kuya. Nung 2019 SEA Games, sinuportahan din namin siya. Ako naman ang next. Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa kanila,” Yulo said.
His five-month intensive training in Japan under Munehiro Kugimiya — the same renowned coach who honed his older brother into an Olympic champion — has clearly paid dividends. And while he stays grounded about his chances, Yulo’s determination is unmistakable.
“Di ko pa po sure. I cannot tell about the future,” he said.
“I just want to stay low and I have to prove to them that this is the Philippines. I have to prove something to the people who support me, because they put in so much money and support. I will do my very best,” he added.
On Sunday, Nov. 23, Yulo guns for the podium in the floor exercise, before returning into action in the finals of vault and horizontal bar on Monday, Nov. 24.
