Carlos Yulo’s dreams of making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics took a big hit after finishing in 59th place in the men’s individual all-around of the 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Sunday at the Sportpaleis Antwerpen in Antwerp, Belgium.
Yulo scored 67.765 points as he missed out on a potential all-around final as only the top 24 gymnasts will advance to the championship round.
This is the first time Yulo participated in the biggest gymnastics competition outside of the Olympics without Japanese mentor Munehiro Kugimiya.
Yulo actually started out strong in the tournament, scoring 14.666 points in parallel bars, 14.6 points in floor exercise, 13.7 points in horizontal bar and 13.233 points in the pommel horse.
But his dismal performances in the rings with 11.566 points and scoring zero points in the vault, his pet event, dropped his chances of making it into the individual all-around final.
Still, all is not lost for Yulo as he could still make it to the Olympics if he wins the floor exercise on 8 October.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said Yulo’s fall from the rings greatly impacted his performance in the vault.
“He was having a hard time with the rings so when he went down after that beautiful performance, he fell on his back and so, the next apparatus was the vault and he didn’t do too well,” Carrion told DAILY TRIBUNE.
“He will perform in one final: The floor exercise. If he wins that, he will be qualified for the Olympics.”
Carrion said Yulo is getting his back under therapy so that he will be at his best for the floor exercise.
“He’s having therapy for his back. He is improving,” Carrion said.
Filipino-American gymnasts Aleah Finnegan and Kylee Kvamme will make their debut in the world championships starting at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. Manila time) on Monday.
Both gymnasts will have to enter the top 14 in the women’s individual all-around to earn a spot in the Paris Olympics.
