Carlos Yulo thinks more Filipinos should try gymnastics

Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo reacts after performing on the floor during the apparatus finals at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on October 12, 2019. (Photo by Thomas KIENZLE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—After becoming the first Filipino gymnast to win the gold medal in the world championships, Carlos Yulo hopes his stunning feat would encourage more Filipinos to try their hand in the sport.

Yulo beat seven other finalists to claim the men’s floor exercise title in the 41st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships late Saturday at Hans Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart, Germany.

“I’m super happy. I didn’t expect to win this medal. I’m crying on the inside,” he said.

“There are not a lot of other gymnasts [in the Philippines]. I want them to come to our gym, and try gymnastics, because Filipinos, they like basketball, but we’re small. They should try gymnastics, it’s more fun,” the 4-foot-9 Yulo added.

Following a successful world championships stint, Yulo now shifts his sights on the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which will be held here in the country later this year.

Apart from bagging the historic gold, the 19-year-old Yulo, who lives and trains in Japan, had earlier booked a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.