With all the twists and turns running into perfection, Filipino gymnast Caloy Yulo can only hope for the best when he competes in the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics.
“He is doing very well,” Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said of the 19-year-old world champion during Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.
Yulo, the sports official added, is looking to win the gold in his pet event, the floor exercise. He could also earn another medal, a silver perhaps, in the vault.
“Caloy also wants to get to the finals of the parallel bars. The pummel and rings are the only ones he’s not doing well at,” Carrion told the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Yulo has been based and studying in Japan for the past four years. He has been perfecting a routine in the floor exercise, which even the best in the sport couldn’t execute.
“He looks perfect,” said Carrion.
Gymnastics competition in the Tokyo Olympics begins on July 24, or the day after the opening ceremony. That prompted Carrion to decline an offer for Yulo to serve as the Philippine flag-bearer.
“They asked him and I said no. He has competition the following day and he needs to rest. You know how heavy the flags are,” Carrion said in the same session powered by Smart and Upstream Media as the official webcast partner.
The 2019 world champion received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer) three weeks ago. He is scheduled to get the second one next week.
Carrion said Yulo, who trains under Japanese coach Munehiro Kugiyama, took it in stride.
In a recent all-Japan competition, Carrion said Yulo came to watch and observe. He later on declared, ‘he’s still the best’ among the gymnasts in Japan.
“Caloy is so calm,” said Carrion.
