Carlos Yulo expects a busy and challenging year in 2022 as he eyes for more gold medals in three major tournaments.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion said Yulo will be competing in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in May, the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games in China in September, and the 51st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, England in a still undisclosed date.
“It’s going to be very busy for Caloy because he’s going to compete in all events in the SEA Games and the Asian Games,” Carrion said in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
Yulo eyes more redemption after a successful campaign at the 50th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan over the weekend where he won gold in vault and silver in parallel bars.
He hopes to eclipse his two-gold, five-silver medal haul at the 2019 Manila SEAG and avenge his seventh place finish in floor exercise at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.
Carrion said their long-term goal is to have Yulo compete in the all-around at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but that would depend on how his training will go for the next three years.
“It’s going to be risky to have him compete in all-around because there’s going to be more preparations for him in all events, but we’re working around it,” Carrion said.
“For now, that’s our decision, but as we go on with training and see how he’s doing, that’s where we are also going to decide. Anyway, it’s still three years from now. There’s more time.”
Carrion also said they are looking for a sports psychologist to complete Yulo’s team, following weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s formula of having a sports psychologist, nutritionist, strength and conditioning coach and head coach on her way to winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.
So far, Yulo’s team is composed of his coach Munehiro Kugimiya and therapist Jumpei Konno. The two Japanese also act as his strength and conditioning coaches, as well as nutritionists.
“Right now, we only need a psychologist for Caloy because sometimes he gets really nervous. It is really important for his mental toughness,” Carrion said.
Meanwhile, Yulo is expected to compete in the All-Japan Team Final on Dec. 10 before flying home to Manila to spend the holidays.