Yulo adds two more golds to Asian Championships haul

Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo concluded his stellar campaign at the 2024 Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, by securing two additional gold medals on Sunday.

Competing at the Gymnastics Sport Palace, Yulo dominated the vault and parallel bars events, bringing his total to four gold medals in the competition.

Yulo’s impressive performances began earlier in the competition where he claimed gold in the individual all-around and the floor exercise, each time outperforming Kazakhstan’s Milad Karimi.

His triumph in the vault saw him score 14.883, narrowly edging out Uzbekistan’s Abdulaziz Mirvaliev who scored 14.783. Malaysia’s Muhammad Sharul Aimy took bronze with a score of 14.466, while fellow Filipino Juancho Besana finished just shy of the podium in fourth place with a score of 14.150.

Yulo continued his winning streak with a dominant performance in the parallel bars, scoring 15.133. He bested China’s Yin Dehang, who scored 15.033, and Uzbekistan’s Rasuljon Abdurakhimov, who secured bronze with 14.866.

Reflecting on his victories, Yulo expressed his satisfaction with his performances. “Winning four gold medals is a dream come true. I’ve worked so hard for this, and I’m grateful for the support of my team and country,” he said.

Despite his successes, Yulo missed out on a medal in the horizontal bar, finishing fourth with a score of 13.433. The event was won by Karimi with a score of 15.033, followed by China’s Tian Hao (14.300) and Liao Jialei (13.800).

The competition also highlighted the emerging talent of Yulo’s younger brother, Karl Eldrew Yulo, who clinched a gold medal in the junior division vault event, showcasing the promising future of Philippine gymnastics.

Yulo’s coach, Munehiro Kugimiya, praised his performance and highlighted the importance of these achievements as they prepare for the upcoming Olympics. “Carlos has shown great determination and skill throughout this competition. We are very proud and excited for what lies ahead,” Kugimiya stated.

Carlos Yulo’s triumphs at the Asian Championships not only underscore his prowess in gymnastics but also serve as a significant boost as he gears up for the Paris 2024 Olympics. His remarkable achievements have once again placed Filipino gymnastics in the international spotlight.