After setting his sights on another Olympic appearance, 2019 World Gymnastics champion Caloy Yulo shared that he will continue focusing on honing his skills.
The two-time 30th Southeast Asian Games medalist nonetheless admitted that sometimes that is not that easy.
“Pinakamahirap dito ‘yung bumangon araw-araw at harapin ‘yung sarili,” he told Power and Play in an interview Saturday.
“Sarili mo ang pinaka-kalaban mo. Hindi pare-pareho ‘yung araw mo. May isang araw motivated ka, sa susunod, wala kang gana. ‘Yun ang pinakamahirap.”
One of the most important aspects often overlooked is the mental preparedness of the athletes going into competitions, especially huge ones such as the Olympics. Yulo, for one, was thankful he had some help in this regard.
The 21-year-old said, “Okay na ‘ko matalo sa kompetisyon, ‘wag lang ako matalo sa sarili ko. Two months before the Olympics, nagkaroon ako ng psychologist. Malaki ‘yung impact nila.
“Marami din akong ways na sinusubukan.
“Lagi kong kinakausap sarili ko, kung ayos lang ba ‘ko, kung anong na-fi-feel ko today. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa maliliit na bagay, tulad ng paggising. ‘Yung mga hindi ko gusto sa sarili ko, tina-try ko na mahalin sila. Kasi ako ‘to eh, ako lang din makakasama ko sa journey na ‘to,” Yulo continued.
The gymnastics upstart also believes that focusing on his own routine and performance will lessen the pressure upon hitting the floor during competition.
“‘Di ako nanonood sa kanila, ‘di ko sila pinapansin,” he admitted. “‘Yung mundo ko lang, ‘pag kompetisyon, may sarili akong mundo. Kahit anong number ko sa lineup, walang problema sa akin.”
With some results going his way and some otherwise, Yulo knew that he had something to work on and to build on in the upcoming competitions, given his current skill set and abilities.
“Nagsisimula pa lang ako.
“May feeling na nanghihinayang kasi sobrang konti na lang nung gap nung points. Pero nakita ko ‘yung potential ko, at ‘yung kailangan ko pa i-improve sa lahat ng events. Isa ‘yan sa pinakamalaking nakuha ko sa pagkakamali ko sa Olympics,” he said.
Now, Caloy is more than ready to bounce back and show the world what he can offer and do in the future.
“‘Yun kasi talaga pinaka-iniisip ko, ‘yung mapakita ko kung gaano kaganda ‘yung gymnastics ko, na iba ako sa kanila. Nakakakaba talaga [sa Olympics], kahit gaano ka ka-preparado.”
