By REY C. LACHICA
The glow and excitement in Carlos Yulo’s eyes are palpable off and on the arena which is just good for the country’s world-class gymnast as he chases his Olympic glory in Paris 12 days from now.
The two-time world champion jumpstarts the 22-player Team Philippines’ campaign in the 2024 Summer Olympics when he competes in the qualifying round on July 27 – a day after the glitzy opening ceremonies that will also mark the country’s 100 years of participation in the world’s greatest sporting event.
But just how ready is Yulo this time?
His physical and mental conditioning is now close to perfect, but what is more important now is his emotional feelings. He is madly in love now with his current girlfriend, period.
And no more hatred. No more bad blood with former Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya after their much-publicized breakup late last year – eight years after the Japanese mentor took the precocious kid under his wings.
The Japanese coach was largely responsible for Yulo’s meteoric rise to international fame when the pride of Manila first captured the bronze medal in the floor exercise in the World Gymnastics Championships in 2018 before winning the precious medal the following year.
Still, Yulo, also winner of numerous Asian Championships and SEA Games medals, was forever indebted to his former coach, saying: “Hindi enough ang thank you lang. He supported my dreams, forever grateful talaga ako sa kanya.”
Taking his lessons well from his failed 2020 Tokyo Games campaign, Yulo, 24, is ready and confident he can spread his wings in the Paris Olympics now that he’s “free” like a bird.
Under new coach in Aldrin Castañeda with occupational therapist Hazel Calawod making sure he’s ultra fit all the time, Yulo is trying his very best to maintain his level of competitiveness and keep his confidence sky-high.
Like a great artist applying the finishing touches to his ‘obra maestra,’ Yulo, who won four golds in the 11th Senior Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is also doing practically the same – refining his every move.
The Paris Games could well be Yulo’s big moment.
