PH eyes gymnastics team for 2028 Olympics

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has announced plans to compete in the gymnastics team event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with hopes of recruiting British-Filipino gymnast Jake Jarman to represent the country.

The POC’s head of pre-Olympic training, Nikko Huelgas, revealed the plans during a press briefing on Friday.

“It’s highly possible [that we would be recruiting Jarman],” Huelgas said, citing discussions with Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion.

Jarman, who has a Filipino mother and lived in the Philippines as a child, became a fan favorite during the recent Paris Olympics, where he competed against two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo.

However, Jarman has previously expressed a preference for remaining with the Great Britain team for the 2028 Olympics.

Carrion confirmed that GAP has reached out to Jarman and British gymnastics officials, but any potential transfer depends on the athlete’s willingness and his parents’ approval.

“I have to talk first to his mother that she agrees, and to Jake himself that he agrees. Because the officials of Jake Jarman told me that unless the father and the mother and Jake Jarman do not agree, wala. They have to agree also,” Carrion explained.

The British officials have made it clear that they would only release Jarman if he and his family insisted on the move.

“I talked to top British officials. They said, ‘we will not release him because we spent a lot for him. We cannot release him. But I can release him if he wants and if the mother wants. If they insist on it, then we can release him,’” Carrion added.

Despite the challenges, Carrion remains optimistic and has invited Jarman to visit the Philippines again in hopes of persuading him to join the national team.

“I’m inviting him here to see how wonderful we are. Maybe he would like to be here better,” she said.

The Philippines is also considering recruiting two additional gymnasts to form a team, marking a historic first for the country in the Olympic gymnastics team competition.

If successful, Jarman’s recruitment could significantly boost the Philippines’ chances in gymnastics, building on the success of Carlos Yulo, who won double gold in Paris.

The POC’s pursuit of Jarman is part of a broader strategy to enhance the Philippines’ standing in international sports, particularly in disciplines where the country has shown potential.