Doha Worlds perfect chance for Yulo to ‘see’ Paris competition

Southeast Asian Games – Artistic Gymnastics – Olympic Marquee, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 8, 2023 Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Poquiz Yulo in action during the men’s qualification REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Carlos Yulo is not losing sight of his real target, and will make his participation in the 2024 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series in Doha, Qatar, a token one, according to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carreon.

“I want to specify that Carlos is joining the World Cup just to look at his competition. He’s not going there to win,’’ Carrion told the Inquirer as the GAP head reiterated the real goal of winning the gold medal in the Paris Olympics.

Yulo performed the floor exercise in the Baku, Azerbaijan, phase of the four-leg World Cup series last month and landed third. The Tokyo Olympian didn’t make it to the medal stands of his other events there.

“He’s not trying to win gold medals, he just wants to see the competition. He understands that everybody now is good, so he has to pick up his skills,’’ said Carreon, whose contributions to gymnastics were honored at the recent Women In Sports Awards of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Commission on Women.

Yulo, the 2019 men’s floor exercise and 2021 vault world champion, leaves for Doha on April 12 prior to the meet set April 17 to April 20.

After returning to Manila on the 21st, Yulo will set up a training camp in Spain and goes home again after two weeks.

Yulo is bound for Paris on July 6 to open another camp until July 21 before entering the Olympic Village on July 22, five days from the July 27 kickoff of the men’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at the Bercy Arena.“If he wants to win the Olympics, he has to be really, really good,’’ said Carrion.

Yulo will see action in all six apparatuses in the all-around event, but should focus only on what he does best—the floor exercise, vault and parallel bars.

“I told him not to worry about his pommel horse, rings and high bar. He cannot do that, just concentrate only on the three,’’ said Carrion.

After spending seven years training in Japan under coach Munehiro Kugimiya, Yulo returned to Manila and switched back to his former coach Aldrin Castañeda.

Carrion said Kugimiya continues to monitor Yulo’s training by regularly watching his videos and suggesting pointers to guide the progress of the Filipino gymnastics ace. INQ