A NEW FILIPINO CHAMPION

Sports are an inherent part of being a Filipino. Turn a few streets and it’s almost
guaranteed that you will find a basketball hoop propped up somewhere, and a few people playing
beneath it. From a young age, Filipinos are taught in school how to play, not only basketball, but
a variety of other sports like volleyball, badminton, and football. Outside the classroom, many
Filipinos also engage in sports like boxing, cycling, and martial arts like taekwondo. And of
course many Filipinos have brought an honor to our country in terms of sports. But just this year
a gymnast is added to the roster of Filipino athletes bringing glory and pride to the country! For
the first time ever, the Philippine national anthem was played in the world gymnastics stage after
Filipino teen gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo made a historic mark of winning the Philippines’ first
ever world championship gold in gymnastics.

The 19-year-old trailblazer bagged a gold medal in the men’s floor exercise of
the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastic Championships late Saturday, 12 October, in Stuttgart,
Germany just a few days after claiming his ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Carlos was the
second Filipino to secure a berth in the said Olympics after pole-vaulter EJ Obiena. The Filipino
gymnast scored a total of 15.300 points, defeating silver medalist Artem Dolgopyat of Israel with
total points of 15.200 and China’s Xiao Ruoteng who won the bronze medal with a score of
14.933. Yulo and Dolgopyat ended the execution part with a tie (8.8). However, Caloy dominated
the floor exercise final as he showcased a full-twisting double layout, piked double front-half, 3
1/2 to barani, and a triple twist dismount.

The shy kid turned celebrated teen gymnast’s name has been making rounds not
only in the national newsstands but also beyond the Philippine shores because “Caloy”, as he is
fondly called, is also the first Southeast Asian male gymnast to capture a gold in the world
championships. Over three years ago, young Caloy reluctantly left Manila to go to Tokyo and
continue his intensive training under the tutelage of Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, who he
met when Gymnastic Association of Japan sent him to coach the Philippine team in a gesture of
sporting goodwill. The coach saw Caloy’s potential and believed his new ward — who grew up
in Pasay City and used to enjoy watching national gymnasts at the Rizal Memorial Sports
Complex needed better training conditions.

The Philippines has been continuously marking its name to the world of sports as
many Filipino athletes have been bringing glory and pride to the country through showing their
Filipino spirit in different fields, with Caloy as the new addition to the list. Caloy is selected to
be one of the flag bearers in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games that will be hosted by the
Philippines from 1 to 9 December at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
 Gymnastics brings a sense of self-fulfillment and ability to face challenges with
positive attitude in people involved in this sport. Just like we Filipinos we had face many
challenges but we just reply it with a smile. For that what make us a Filipino. It is true that one
needs skills to succeed in life, but apart from skills, one needs the willpower to do so. People
who are successful not only have the right skills and intelligence, but they also have the
determination to make it big in life. And Filipinos have that for Caloy proved us that with the
skill and determination you can be the next champion.