KARL Eldrew Yulo was poised to grab a silver medal on Monday at the close of the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships.
But when Colombian Camilo Vera came up with a dazzling performance near the end of the men’s high bar event, Vera snatched the gold medal and Yulo took home his second bronze when it was competition at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
Vera’s showing netted him 14.533 for the gold, ahead of American Danila Leykin’s 14.22 after he came aboard as the second performer.
The 16-year-old Yulo, the sixth performer, unravelled something new, a triple back flip which he executed before he landed smoothly for a 13.9.
“This is something that I never did before in an international competition,” said Yulo, younger brother of Paris Olympics’ double-gold medalist Carlos.
Other than that, Yulo said he never attempted any more hard routines since he was already limping from his ankle injury.
“Hindi na rin ako naghangad na maka-medalya kasi, iika-ika na rin ako kanina. But, still I managed to get a medal,” said Yulo, who on Sunday bagged his first bronze in the floor exercise.
Meanwhile, Russian bet Arsenii Dukhno came up with better executions during his turn at the mat, and redeemed himself with a second gold-medal finish.
Yulo, whose fate depended on the Russian’s performance, then saw his hopes for a podium fade in the men’s vault event, also on Monday.
Yulo settled for fourth place with a tally of 13.716.
The 17-year-old Dukhno, who fumbled with his landings and placed fourth in the floor exercises the other day, made off with the top honors with 14.322 points.
Dukhno, who was the second to the last performer on the mat, did his routines on a lower difficulty setting for 5.2.
The Russian, who eked out scores of 14.1 on his first routine and 14.322 on his second, tried to ace his landings, and was penalized on his first attempt.
Still recovering from a right ankle injury, Yulo also did his drills on a lower difficulty t 4.8 and was at third.
This was before Dukhno came on deck, with scores of 13.933 and 13.5.
Playing safe in order not to aggravate his condition, Yulo did well on his first attempt, after doing a 2 ½ twist, and was trying to balance himself on one foot when he landed.
British gymnast Sol Scott took the silver medal with a 14.066, while Evan McPhillips clinched the bronze with a 13.95.
