It runs in the blood.
Karl Eldrew Yulo once again proved that he’s more than just Carlos Yulo’s younger brother as he secured another medal in the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships on Monday at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.
The rising star from nearby Leveriza Street scored 14.000 to collect the bronze medal in the boys’ horizontal bar event of this prestigious tournament where future Olympians are seeing action.
Camilo Vera of Colombia clinched the gold medal with 14.533 while Danila Leykin of the United States settled for the silver medal with 14.233.
Yulo, whose older brother won two gold medals in the Paris Olympics, wrapped up his participation in this world-class event with two bronze medals — the other coming from the boys’ floor exercise event on Sunday.
“My final performance was good. I stuck the landing. That’s the most beautiful dismount that I ever did and that’s the most difficult routine I ever did,” Yulo said, adding that he is the first Filipino gymnast to do a Cassina a difficult variation of a double back flip over the bar that includes full twist performed in a stretched position.
“As a matter of fact, I’m the first Filipino gymnast to do a Cassina with a full twist and a catch and a triple back dismount.”
Like his older brother, the 17-year-old Yulo carved his name on history books as he became the first Filipino to win two bronze medals in the prestigious junior tilt that was established by the International Gymnastics Federation in 2019.
“It’s a big thing because this is my last junior event and we got two more bronze medals,” said Yulo, who will fly back to his training base in Japan with coach Munehiro Kugimiya on Wednesday.
“It’s really, really, really big thing for me because I’m going to finish my junior level in the history of Philippine sports.”
“I just realized that I’m in history as the first Filipino junior gymnast to win a medal in the worlds.”
Actually, the day didn’t go quite well for Yulo as he narrowly missed the podium in vault after scoring 13.716 with Russian Arsenii Dukhno collecting his second gold medal with 14.3333, Sol Scott of the United Kingdom bagging the silver medal with 14.066 and Evan McPhillips, also of the United Kingdom, settling for bronze medal with 13.950.
Still, Yulo never failed to raise the bar, finishing eighth in the individual all-around despite nursing an injured ankle that he suffered in the middle of competition.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the future is bright for Yulo so they will do their best to help him develop into a world-class athlete at the senior level — just like his older, more distinguished brother.
Gregorio, who has an eye for talent, even stressed that he sees the Yulo brothers joining forces in representing the country in the Los Angeles Olympics three years from now.
“Yes, we will go all out. Carlos is still very young and Eldrew is very, very young,” Gregorio said.
“I think we can all look forward to Los Angeles and then Brisbane and that is really very good for Philippine sports and that is very good for all of us, for the Filipino people.”
Gregorio said if that happens, Carlos would be 28 years old while his younger brother will just be 20 years old, putting them in a perfect position to help the country achieve more glory on the international stage.