Carlos “Caloy” Yulo, the country’s gymnastics’ gem, is still lording it over in the world stage but this early, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines has already identified the next Filipino superstar in the sport.
And GAP president Cynthia Carrion doesn’t have to look far.
Without batting an eyelash, Carrion pointed to Yulo’s younger brother, Karl Eldrew Yulo, as the one who can follow in the footsteps of the world champion.
“It’s Karl Yulo and we are ready to provide the same support that we have given to Caloy when he was just starting in gymnastics,” said Carrion.
The 13-year-old Eldrew, a multi-medalist in the Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy competitions, is one of the several boys, who have been training at GAP Training Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
But the COVID-19 pandemic in the early part of 2019 forced the training of the national junior athletes to a halt.
Carrion was happy to announce though that a new GAP Training Center is being built in Intramuros, Manila at a cost of P10 million with the help of private sponsors and the Philippine Sports Commission.
It will be finished by the December and Yulo will be back home to lead the formal opening of the facility.
“By that time, the kids can restart training as we also built rooms for them to stay in there,” added Carrion.
Eldrew, according to Carrion, will be sent to Japan to train under Caloy’s Japanese coach Munehiro Kugiyama.
“Yes, when he (Eldrew) is old enough, he will train in Japan,” Carrion said.
In his past interviews, Eldrew said that he will train harder and even vowed to become better than his older brother.
Caloy is coming off a masterful performance in the 50th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan last Sunday when he dominated the vault event for the gold medal while also bagging the silver in the parallel bars.
