Phnom PENH, Cambodia — Champion gymnast Carlos Yulo is determined to make a splash in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games by topping the horizontal and parallel bars and taking top honors in the individual and team event.
Limited to just two apparatuses as per ruling by the host country, Yulo maintained that he is going all-out in his pursuit for glory when hostilities take the spotlight early next week.
Last Tuesday in Manila, the Japan-based Yulo underwent a two-hour evaluation at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex alongside his teammates.
The other members of the men’s artistic team are Juancho Miguel Besana (vault), Ace de Leon (still rings), Jhon Santillan (pommel horse) and Jan Timbang (pommel horse).
Yulo and the rest of the men’s artistic gymnastics team are expected to arrive in Phnom Penh Thursday on a flight arranged by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“It is still a competition. I want to show what I can do in gymnastics even if I don’t end up winning everything,” Yulo said.
“I want to get the top award for the individual and team all-around. We want to get that.”
Last year, Yulo copped the top individual all-around and a silver in the team all-around.
The 23-year-old from Leveriza said getting to play in the Philippines days before the tournament starts really helped him adapt to the conditions in Phnom Penh.
Despite still feeling a bit of pain in his left ankle, Yulo is optimistic this will not derail his plans in trying to win in every event he’s in.
“This evaluation is a big help because I’m used to playing in Japan and here it’s hot. There’s a lot of struggles going to Cambodia but a lot of learning as well,” Yulo said.
“My ankle still hurts a bit but I think I can do it even if I’m at 85 or 90 percent ready. I’m getting my ankle injected to release the pain but it’s not steroids since it’s approved by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).”
