Karl Eldrew Yulo, a gymnastics prodigy hailing from Manila, is gearing up for his first international competition for the year at the Pacific Rim Championships slated April 21 to 28 in Colombia.
Fresh from intensive training sessions under the guidance of renowned Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, Yulo is poised to showcase his skills against top-tier competitors in this biennial tournament, which sees participation from member nations across the Pacific Alliance of gymnastics federations.
Kugimiya previously served as the long-time coach to Yulo’s elder brother, Olympian Carlos.
The Pacific Rim Championships attract a formidable lineup of athletes from countries such as Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States, among others. Yulo’s participation underscores his rapid development and growing prowess in the sport.
His dominance was evident in the recent Batang Pinoy competitions, where he effortlessly clinched all seven gold medals last December, showcasing his superiority over local competition.
Eldrew is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to compete alongside his elder brother, Carlos, a decorated gymnast with two world trophies and a coveted slot in the upcoming Paris Olympics this August.
In his previous international outings, Eldrew exhibited his potential by securing a silver medal in the junior men’s vault at the Asian Artistic Gymnastics in Singapore last June.
In December, he delivered an impressive performance at the 2023 JRC Stars Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, where he claimed four gold medals in various events including the vault, parallel bars, floor exercise, and still rings.