Carlos Yulo still has a lot to be thankful for in his first 2023 International Gymnastics Federation World Cup stint despite missing out on most of the apparatus finals in Cottbus, Germany recently.
In a social media post on Wednesday, the 23-year-old prodigy is taking his shortcomings with a positive outlook, turning them into lessons he could use in future tournaments.
Yulo failed to make it into the final of the men’s floor exercise and men’s vault, his pet events, as well as in the men’s rings.
He was able to get into the final of the men’s parallel bars and mustered a third-place finish in the process.
“Failed to qualify for my two favorite events but I’m still really grateful for the experience. I realized things that I can work more and improve on — something that I will treasure,” Yulo said.
“Never stop believing and never stop trying.”
According to the FIG website, Yulo is expected to play in all apparatuses in the second leg in Doha, which is currently happening as of press time at Aspire Dome, starting with the men’s floor exercise, pommel horse and rings.
The two-time World Champion’s second leg in the World Cup won’t be easy as the champions in the first leg will be back as well.
Another Filipino gymnast in Juancho Miguel Besana is also expected to join Yulo in the Qatari capital after making it into the final of the men’s vault apparatus in the German leg of the World Cup.
Men’s floor champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel will join the Doha leg as well as pommel horse gold medalist Abdulla Azimov of Uzbekistan and Artur Davytan of Armenia, who ruled the vault apparatus in Cottbus.
Illia Kovtun of Ukraine will be aiming for his sixth World Cup gold in the parallel bars with Shohei Kawakami of Japan expected to defend his men’s horizontal bar gold along with Greece’s Eleftherios Petrounias in the men’s rings.
Also appearing in the second leg is Tokyo Olympics men’s all-around silver medalist Xiao Ruoteng of China along with compatriots Liu Yang, who won the men’s rings gold in the Summer Games and men’s parallel bars Olympic champion Zou Jingyuan.
Three-time world champion and Chinese gymnast Lin Chaopan will also be participating in the tournament.
