Yulo back on track

It didn’t take long for Caloy Yulo to reestablish his status as a world-caliber gymnast in the floor event after a disappointing 13.566 finish for 44th place at the recent Tokyo Olympics. Yulo, 21, registered 15.30 points, the same score he tallied in claiming the world title in Stuttgart two years ago, to clinch the gold at the All-Japan Seniors and Masters Championships at Sakata City in the Yamagata prefecture last Thursday. Uchida Hayato was a distant second placer with 14.7.

Yulo’s Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya relayed the news to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion and said he expected the result. Since the Olympics, Yulo took a brief break before plunging back to training at the Tsukahara Gymnastics Center in Tokyo, determined to redeem himself. Kugimiya’s battlecry is “Revenge the Tokyo” and a strong indicator of Yulo’s return to form is how he performs at the World Championships in Kitakyushu on Oct. 18-24.

Aside from the All-Japan gold in floor, Yulo picked up a bronze in vault, scoring 15.00. It was an improvement from his average of 14.716 for fourth spot in the Olympic final but far from the first place mark of 15.233 in Yamagata. Carrion said clearly, Yulo has recovered from his Olympic setback. “Coach Mune was extremely happy with Caloy’s All-Japan performance,” said Carrion. “In the Olympics, Caloy wasn’t himself. He actually took a week off from training before the Olympics because of a hip injury. When he returned to the gym, Caloy tried to hide the injury but it really bothered him. Then, there was the pressure to land a podium finish so it also became a mental challenge. What happened in Tokyo was unbelievable, it wasn’t Caloy out there in the floor event. But he tried to make up for it in vault. Can you imagine he finished fourth in the final despite a foot fault and a major deduction in his first attempt? He scored the highest among the finalists in his second attempt and would’ve taken the bronze or maybe even the silver if not for the foot fault.”

Carrion said the real test will be in the coming World Championships where 249 gymnasts from 60 countries are booked to compete. “It will probably still be with a limited audience but I’m expecting more spectators,” she said. “Caloy will be out to retain his status as a world champion.” Carrion said she will make the trip to Kitakyushu. “I plan to take up the matter of hiring a Japanese sports psychologist for Caloy during my visit,” she said. “This will be for his mental strength. For nutrition, we plan to tap Jeaneth Aro who takes care of Hidilyn Diaz and our boxing team. Caloy knows what foods to eat so it will be guidance online from Manila unlike the sports psychologist who will interact with him closely in Japan.”