Carlos Yulo in training. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Carlos Yulo is back in the Philippines for the first time in a long while.
He will grace the official opening and blessing of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) National Gymnastics Center in Intramuros, Manila, on Saturday after which he will spend some time with his family.
“Caloy really needs to come here and loosen up. He’s been training really hard in Japan and he deserves to relax even for just a few days,’’ said GAP president Cynthia Carrion.
But even as he plans to take a much-needed breather, he said he has his eyes set on three major tournaments, with the 31st Southeast Asian Games in his sights.
“I think I’m already 85 percent ready (for the SEA Games),’’ Yulo told the Inquirer on Thursday. The world champion gymnast will return to his training ground in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday after spending quality time with his family.
“I really focus on what I do in training every day and make it a point to avoid distractions,’’ said Yulo.
Back in the 2019 SEA Games held in Manila, the 22-year-old bundle of energy struck two gold medals in the floor and all-around events and had five silvers in the pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.