Carlos Edriel Yulo —AFP FILE PHOTO
Carlos Edriel Yulo feels frustrated after finishing without a gold medal at the 51st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, England.
Although Yulo has vowed to make amends during next year’s world event in Antwerp, Belgium, the Filipino gymnast would rather have an Olympic gold medal in hand.
“It doesn’t matter if I don’t win a gold medal at the world championship. My goal is to win a gold medal at that Olympics,” said Yulo, who was recognized as the country’s top gymnast in an awards ceremony jointly organized by KG Management and the Gymnastics Association. instrument of the Philippines (GAP) held on Friday night.
Japan-based Yulo will have several chances to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics—the 2023 Antwerp tournament in October 2023 and four tournaments in the 2024 World Cup Series, among them.
He could also earn an Olympic spot through the 2024 Asian Championships. Yulo is the defending Asian champion in floor, arch and barbell exercises. “My mindset is not to rush. It’s hard not to think about all these tournaments and the preparation I have to go through, but I will make time for every tournament. I will play the way I want to show,” Yulo said.
The 22-year-old, 4-foot-11 fireball won a silver medal in diving and a bronze medal in the crossbar at the world championships in Liverpool.
He failed to defend his title in the vault he ruled over in the 2021 edition in Kitakyushu, Japan. Yulo was also the silver medalist in the parallel event in that event.
But if there’s one thing that excites the Leveriza, Manila prodigy, it’s the fact that he’s currently ranked eighth in the global event globally.
“I have to be more confident next year. I will focus more and train harder,” Yulo said, thanking GAP president Cynthia Carrion, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the MVP Sports Foundation for their support.
Aleah Finnegan, a Filipino-American, was also honored in the ceremony held at Heritage Hotel after winning a double gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games and leading the national women’s artistic gymnastics team. won two silver medals.
Munehiro Kugimiya, Yulo’s Japanese coach, was also named as one of the top awardees along with Miguel Besana (men’s artistic gymnastics), Carl Joshua Tangonan (men’s aerobics), Charmaine Dolar (female aerobics) and Breana Labadan (rhythmic gymnastics).
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