As he leads Team Philippines at the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, Karl Yulo is focused on enjoying the experience and leaving the pressure behind.
For Karl Eldrew Yulo, the weight of expectations may burden others, but not him.
As he leads Team Philippines at the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, the 17-year-old is focused on leaving the pressure behind and embracing the experience with a clear mind.
“I really don’t think about other’s expectations. Like my brother [Caloy] said, it will pull you down. Iinstead], I just have to enjoy and value this moment,” the younger brother of Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo said.
He continued: “[For me] having a good performance is okay for me."
Teaming up with Yulo are brothers John Anthony and Hillarion Palles and CJ Pernia on the junior's men’s side, while Maxine Bondoc, Sabina Tayag, and Jellian Bantilan represent the women’s contingent.
He has already collected an impressive array of medals in his junior career, including a gold at the 2024 Junior Asian Championships and silver medals in the 2023 and 2025 editions of the same event, all in vault.
Despite these achievements, the 17-year-old remains grounded and focused on the bigger picture.
“If I don’t win a medal, that’s okay. As long as I did my best, I’m okay,” Yulo admits.
The floor exercise, parallel bars, rings, and vault are expected to be his standout events during the five-day competition.
Looking ahead, Yulo is fully aware of the stiff competition standing in the way of a successful campaign for Team Philippines.
“Japan, China, Colombia but there's many [teams still out there],” he shared.
Yulo and his teammates will kick off their campaign later this evening in the men’s artistic gymnastics qualifications and team rankings, scheduled for Subdivision 4 at 7:45 p.m.
(With reports from Xander Cipriano/One Sports Digital)
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.