Elite Eldrew Yulo qualifies for 4 gold events in world championships

November 21 ------ Filipino rising star gymnast Eldrew Yulo showed the world he is ready for the next step in his career, as he qualified for four gold-medal events in the 2025 FIG Junior World Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

With a capacity crowd, his entire family, and his double Olympic gold medalist brother Carlos cheering him on, Eldrew showed the most potential in floor exercise — a certified Yulo family staple — after finishing second with a score of 14.233, just behind Russian Arsenii Dukhno’s chart-topping 14.500. The 17-year-old posted his second-best finish in vault — another Yulo family favorite — with a 13.750 aggregate score built off a strong first attempt (14.200) and a decent second flip (13.300), despite a botched landing that sent him off the mat.

Yulo also showed strong promise in the high bar event, finishing sixth overall out of eight possible finalists with a 13.700 score, slightly bogged down by a hefty 0.3 penalty. Despite shaky finishes in pommel horse (58th, 11.333), parallel bars (28th, 12.666) and still rings (27th, 12.200), Yulo still performed well enough to qualify for the individual all-around final at 14th place out of 24 finalists with a total score of 78.332. “One of my wishes has been granted, but my job’s still not finished. I will do better [in the finals] and I will give my entire best,” Yulo said in Filipino. “I said earlier if I could enter the finals, I will give my 100%, or more than 100%.”

Though Dukhno rose as a clear all-around favorite with an 82.065 total score, Yulo still enters the final as a podium dark horse after finishing just two points below second-placer Lanbin Yang of China (80.698). Grassroots gems King CJay Pernia and Hillarion Palles III joined Yulo in the world tilt, placing 106th and 113th, respectively, in the all-around rankings. Elisabeth Antone and the rest of the Philippines’ girls gymnastics team are up next in the qualifiers on Friday, November 21, in the same venue, with 15-year-old Antone expected to lead as the country’s top medal hope.

Source: rappler.com