Carlos Yulo readies himself for tougher challenges ahead of his 2024 Paris Olympics campaign following a fruitful showing at the 51st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, England that concluded over the weekend.
Yulo was denied back-to-back titles in vault after capturing the silver medal while also going home with a bronze in parallel bars Sunday, Nov. 6, in a competition that can be likened to the Olympic atmosphere.
It was not the result that he wanted – having failed to make it to the podium in the floor exercise and the all-around after finishing seventh and eighth, respectively – but the 22-year-old said it was a memorable learning experience when he tries to earn a berth to the Paris Olympics starting in February next year.
“Puro lessons po ang nakuha ko this time,” said Yulo in Monday’s online press briefing.
“Disappointed, siyempre, pero wala na po akong magagawa dun. Kasama po talaga sa journey yon ng pagiging atleta.”
Trying out a more difficult routine, Yulo tallied 14.950 from his two vaults to finish behind Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Artur Davtyan of Armenia’s 15.050.
The multiple Southeast Asian Games champion also scored 15.366 in parallel bars to settle behind reigning Olympic champion Zou Jingyuan of China (16.166) and Lukas Dauser of Germany (15.500).
Yulo said it all boiled down to mental toughness, something that he observed while particularly competing in the first group of the all-around final that included eventual champion Daiki Hashimoto and silver medalist Zhang Boheng.
“Medyo nai-insecure pa rin ako sa sarili ko. Minsan sa kaka-focus ko sa mga skills na di ko kaya, di ko nakikita yung mga skills kung saan ako magaling. So yun po yung ginagawan ko ng paraan, na matanggap ang sarili ko na galing talaga sa puso,” Yulo said.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion and Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya were still proud of what Yulo had accomplished, adding that this is just the start of their arduous preparations for the Paris Olympic qualifications.
Yulo is lined up to compete in the World Cup series next year beginning in Cottbus, Germany on Feb. 23 to 26, in Doha, Qatar on March 1 to 4, in Baku, Azerbaijan on March 9 to 12 and in Cairo, Egypt on April 27 to 30.
“In the world championships, we focused on how to qualify for the final and he did in four events. We cannot make mistakes next year because of the Olympic qualification. This competition is already a process for the Olympics and we can fix some, but nothing big,” Kugimiya said.