MANILA – With major changes in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo will have to choose only one apparatus in the men's individual event in artistic gymnastics.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion told ABS-CBN News that host Thailand introduced a rule that limits gymnasts like Yulo, who usually compete in multiple apparatus.
"SEA they're giving only one apparatus. He [Carlos] cannot compete in all. He can only compete in one apparatus. Only one, they're only giving everybody one [apparatus]. Because they're very smart," Carrion said.
"Because if they give Carlos all, he's going to win all. And nobody will win anything anymore. SEA Games, Carlos can win all the apparatus for sure. So they're giving him only one, one apparatus," she explained.
Yulo bagged gold in the men's individual all-around and parallel bars, while clinching silver in the team event and still rings in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
But given the new rule, it remains unclear which event he will focus on this year.
Carrion said they are still finalizing which gymnast will compete in which apparatus for the biennial regional meet.
"We'd have to check. Because he [Carlos] might not compete the floor. He might give it to one of the gymnasts. Maybe he will compete in the parallel bar, because he can do that also. So we have to check. We want to win also all the apparatus," she said.
Floor exercise gold medalist Ivan Cruz and vault gold medalist Miguel Besana may defend their title in this year's edition.
Yulo's younger sister Elaiza, who is a multiple Palarong Pambansa gold medalist, is expected to join the national team.
The Philippines had an eight medal haul in the 2023 SEA Games, four gold, two silver and one bronze.
For now, Yulo and the national team will turn their focus on the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships happening from October 19 to 25 in Jakarta, Indonesia.