Two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo will not be seeing action in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, according to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion.
There will be no Carlos Yulo for Team Philippines in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games taking place in Thailand, as the two-time Olympic gold medalist decided to forgo the competition because of rules limiting his participation.
Host country Thailand reportedly imposed a rule that will limit gymnasts like Yulo to compete in just two apparatus for the men's individual events. However, he can only qualify for one final.
In 2023, Yulo picked two gold medals in the individual all-around and parallel bars, while settling for silver in the team event and in rings.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion confirmed to One Sports that Yulo will be opting out of the biennial tournament because of the stringent rules.
“I had [a] conversation with Carlos yesterday about the SEA Games in Thailand and he decided that he will not join,” Carrion said in a text message.
“I agree with him as there is no team [event] nor all apparatus. [He] can only join two apparatus and only go to [the] finals for one.”
Giving way for the next generation
Yulo’s decision was also motivated by pushing his teammates to step up to the plate.
With the likes of Yulo’s brother Eldrew, and Juancho Miguel Besana also making waves, Yulo wants to be able to give them the chance to compete in tournaments without him to push them to greater heights in the sport.
“Carlos wants to give chances for his team to win it and with him there will remove the chances for his teammates that can win it,” she said.
John Ivan Cruz won the gold in floor exercise in Vietnam, while Besana snagged the top prize in vault.
In the Southeast Asian Games, Yulo has won a whopping 18 medals — nine each of gold and silver.
Yulo was most decorated in the 2023 edition of the games in Vietnam where he won five gold medals.
For now, Yulo and the rest of the Philippine team are focused on the 53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Indonesia, which will begin on October 19.
Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.