By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
An early slip on his routine proved costly for Carlos Yulo as he finished seventh in his pet event – floor exercise – in the 51st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, England Saturday, Nov. 4.
Coming in as the heavy favorite to win the gold medal after topping Monday’s qualifiers, Yulo failed to land cleanly in a two-and-a-half twist to front double pike for a dismal 13.300 – a far cry from his 15.266 qualifying score.
“I didn’t kick like I do in practice,” said Yulo on his routine.
“It was a bit too soft. I felt I couldn’t make it, but I tried to correct it on the landing. It was affected by my first tumble, and then it is like a chain, you can’t stop it.”
Great Britain’s Giarnni Regini-Moran bagged the gold with 14.533 while all-around champion Daiki Hashimoto of Japan clinched the silver with 14.500. Another Japanese in Ryosuke Doi pocketed the bronze with 14.266.
“I am really disappointed, obviously. Yesterday was okay – I hit it. But today, I had a feeling that I lost myself,” said Yulo, referring to his all-around final campaign on Friday, Nov. 4, where he also topped the floor exercise event with 15.166.
Yulo hopes to recover when he competes in the vault – where he is the defending champion – and parallel bars Sunday, Nov. 6.
He is the second best qualifier in vault with 14.849 and fourth in parallel bars with 15.300.
“I feel a bit down because of what happened today but I’m going to review what I did today and build my motivation again,” he said.
