MANILA, Philippines, November 3 ------ Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said yesterday Caloy Yulo is aiming to bag at least two gold medals in four finals he qualified to enter at the 51st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, and the key to victory is sticking to the mat upon landing.
In the qualifiers last Monday, Yulo finished first in floor, second in vault, third in all-around and fourth in parallel bars. He didn’t make it to the finals of pommel horse, rings and horizontal bar. Yulo will go for his first gold in the all-around finals tonight (tomorrow 2 a.m., Manila time) then shoot for his second in floor on Saturday (9:30 p.m., Manila time). He’ll be back in the finals of vault (Sunday, 9:30 p.m. Manila time) and parallel bars (Sunday, 11:25 p.m., Manila time).
“It was amazing how Caloy qualified in four finals,” said Carrion who’s in Liverpool. “Out of over 400 athletes from 74 countries, Caloy is probably the most popular. The applause is incredible as all eyes are on him when he performs. The Japanese fans beside me in the stands do not speak a word of English but they’re waving the Philippine flag, using clappers and binoculars and taking videos only of Caloy.”
Carrion said the competition is loaded with talent and six 2021 world champions are vying for honors. “We’re gunning for gold in floor and vault,” she said. “Even without Russia and Belarus, the opposition is tough with China, Japan, Israel and many others. I’m impressed by the Chinese Taipei gymnasts. It seems like athletes all over the world have improved a lot. They do the twists and turns that Caloy does but it’s the sticking that makes the difference. No one can do the skill that Caloy does in the vault as he has highest degree of difficulty. He only needs to stick and he’ll win the gold.”
Carrion said in the days leading to the finals, Yulo won’t be distracted. “No exploring Liverpool as we need to keep his mind focused on the finals,” she said. “I asked him to relax a bit in his room and watch comedy TV and talk to his girlfriend (Chloe San Jose). He’s training daily, morning and afternoon. He still needs to improve his pommel horse, horizontal bar and rings for the all-around finals. Caloy will do the six apparatus in the all-around finals and will do the floor, vault and parallel bars separately in the other finals. If he does well, he can win four gold medals but I’m aiming only for at least two.”
Source: philstar.com
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