INTENSIFIED training awaits Karl Eldrew Yulo in Japan.
The 16-year-old Yulo said he will now focus on his transition at the senior level after earning two bronze medals (floor exercise and horizontal bar) at the recent the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, which the Philippines hosted.
“I will train, compete and repeat there,” said Yulo, who leaves for Tokyo on Thursday and be with Japanese mentor Munehiro Kugimiya, the same coach that molded his older brother in the past — Paris Olympics gold medalist Carlos Yulo.
The younger Yulo hopes to sharpen his skills further before he steps into more challenges in men’s artistic gymnastics.
“I’m going to the senior level na. Magla-lie low muna ako,” added Yulo, who seeks to join his brother in the national men’s squad, months from now.
For over a year, Kugimiya has been helping out on the development of the young Eldrew, after coach Reyland Capellan asked him to come aboard.
“Halos isang taon na akong tinutulungan ni coach Mune,” said Yulo’s coach Reyland Capellan.
Yulo, who tinkered with moves for the first time during the four-day meet, revealed that he will be laying low for awhile and get ready for more challenges ahead.
When he saw action at the Junior World Championships, Yulo was doing new tricks for the first time, routines that he only does while in training with Capellan.
“I got emotional after my routine (high bar). That was my cleanest, and I stuck my landing,” said Yulo.
One of the new moves that Yulo did well was done in the last stage of his high bar event, the Cassina 1 with full twist and crutch, a trick known as a Kolman. Yulo then ended it with a triple back dismount.
The Cassina 1 is a skill that involves the execution of a laid-out and backward somersault over the horizontal bar, while executing a full 360-degree twist.
“Marami siyang bagong skills na ginagawa ngayon,” said Capellan.
