Karl Eldrew Yulo cannot be denied a medal in the ongoing 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships after finishing in third place in floor exercise Sunday at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
The 17-year-old Yulo secured the bronze after earning 13.766 points despite a bum right ankle he sustained during the individual all-around final a day before.
Yulo admitted he was nervous while waiting for the final result.
When all-around champion Arsenii Duhkno of Russia finished with 13.633 to wind up at fourth place, the Adamson High School prodigy felt relieved.
“I am just starting my journey here. I still have a lot more challenges to face but I am happy,” Yulo said.
“I was biting my nails while I was waiting for the result. I was already accepting that I would finish fourth or fifth and I would at least I did my best despite the injury. I am just thankful to the Lord He gave me the strength to compete.”
Lanbin Yang of China won the gold medal 13.833 while Simone Sperenza of Italy got the silver with 13.766.
The younger brother of Paris double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo said the victory was bittersweet as it came at the expense of Duhkno.
“When he (Duhkno) stepped outside the mat, I didn’t know what to feel. I felt bittersweet because he is still my friend even though were are opponents,” Yulo said.
“I didn’t know what to feel at that time so I cried. I was cheering them on using their respective languages.”
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick “Pato” Yulo congratulated Yulo for his podium finish in one of the biggest competitions for up-and-coming gymnasts.
“Let’s not forget he’s still very young. It’s the World Championships and he’s up against the best in the world,” said Gregorio, who was in attendance along with International Gymnastics Federation president Morinari Watanabe and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion.
“I was telling president Watanabe, this is Carlos Yulo 2.0 in Paris, now in Manila. A great start for our young boy Eldrew.”
Carrion remains optimistic Yulo’s bronze medal finish will eventually lead him to the elusive gold medal in the vault and horizontal bar finals Monday at 2 p.m.
“I hope by tomorrow his foot will be better because when you do the vault, you need to jump high and you have to stick the landing,” Carrion said.
Yulo could make history as the first Filipino to win a gold in the Junior World Championships, which started in 2019.