A jubilant Carlos Yulo qualified for the finals in pole vault. (Photo from Getty Images/Yong Teck Lim)
Filipino Olympic champion Carlos Yulo shrugged off a rough qualifying vault to speak about carrying the country’s honor and sharing the floor with his 18-year-old brother Karl Eldrew.The two-time Olympic gold medallist landed flat on his back on vault during the qualifying round of this year’s Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium (Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium) in Nagoya.
Despite having not achieved his goal in the qualifiers, Yulo still considered it one of the most joyful days he has had in gymnastics.
The reigning Olympic vault champion’s hand had slipped on his front handspring double pike, and he came down hard, but he quickly collected himself and took his second vault, still qualifying seventh for the finals.
Yulo said the fall did not spoil the event: “In the qualification, we managed to have a good time and really enjoy the moment.”
It also helped his team to grab a sixth-place finish in the men’s team final.
The 26-year-old gymnast from Manila was the fourth highest scorer among competitors, successfully executing the daring vault on which he had come to grief earlier in Japan.
“For me, my vault, I was really comfortable today, and I think I really get that good feeling,” he enthused.
But his triumph was not what made the day. Instead it was his younger brother who did. Carlos and 18-year-old Karl Eldrew were on the floor together for the Philippines.
“Of course, it’s really fun. This is our second time competing together as team Philippines, and as a family,” Carlos blurted out. “It’s really an honour to represent our country together with my brother. Today was really joyful.”
Karl, at his first Asian Games, has waited a long time for the chance to compete alongside his golden brother: “It’s been my dream since I was a kid to compete beside him.”
“I’m really grateful that we’re safe today. No one hurt, no one [got] an injury. Today was very fun and exhausting, but I really enjoyed being beside him,” he added.
