MANILA — After competing in his first senior-level competition in Baku, Azerbaijan, the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series continues for rising Filipino gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo.
Eldrew, the younger brother of two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, will be competing in all six apparatus at the FIG World Cup Antalya in Turkiye.
The 18-year-old reached the finals in two apparatuses in Baku, where he finished sixth in his pet event, floor exercise, and seventh in horizontal bar.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion lauded the younger Yulo for his performance in his first senior-level tilt.
"I'm so proud of him for him to come sixth place [in floor exercise]," she told ABS-CBN News in an online interview on Thursday.
READ: Eldrew Yulo finishes sixth in floor exercise final of FIG World Cup Baku
"Which is a very good finish, to tell you the truth. I didn't expect anything. At that time, Carlos hadn't even reached that point. Remember, he's coming from junior. This is the first time he's meeting all the senior experienced athletes," the GAP President added.
Carrion underscored the importance of Eldrew competing in the FIG World Cup series, where he will go up against high-level gymnasts in the senior level.
READ: Eldrew Yulo ends FIG World Cup Baku with 7th place finish in horizontal bar
"It is very, very good for him. In fact, it will really help him in the future, you know? The more he does, the more World Cups he competes in, the better for him, you know? Because it will improve him a lot. Carlos also had a lot of World Cups, and in fact, a lot of World Cups he did not do well," she said.
Carrion reminded Eldrew to stay focused on his own performance and trust in his skills, as he takes on the daunting task of facing elite senior gymnasts.
"Today I was watching all of them perform and watching Eldrew, watching them. I had to come to him. Eldrew, don't get intimidated by these people. You're just as good. You're already a senior," she said.
READ: Eldrew Yulo cops another bronze in Junior Worlds
Yulo will compete in the qualifications of the floor exercise, pommel horse, and high bar at 8 p.m., Philippine time.
"I expect him to be in the finals, not to be number one, not to be number two, just to be in the finals for the floor. And then we will see what happens in the finals if he does as good," Carrion said.
The GAP President said she personally flew to Turkiye to show support and monitor Eldrew's performance.
"There is a lot of judging that goes wrong because you know, this is a human being, and they can make a mistake. And we are watching, I know," she said.
"But I just wanted them to know that we're alert to the fact that we are going to do inquiries if they judge wrong. You know, judging has to be good, and judging has to be just, you know, what is correct," Carrion added.
Yulo's coach made an inquiry during his floor exercise finals routine, where his score was adjusted following a review.
Eldrew and Carlos were supposed to compete alongside each other in the FIG World Cup Antalya, but the elder Yulo decided to skip the tournament due to the conflict in the Middle East.
"I didn't force him because he has had a lot of exposure already. He doesn't really need to come, you know? So if he doesn't want to come, it's his privilege," Carrion explained.
The FIG World Cup series will continue in April with venues set in Cairo, Egypt, Osijek, Croatia, and Doha, Qatar.
The GAP president said participation of the country's gymnasts in these events will depend on the situation in the area.