What started as child’s play has now become a serious game for the Yulo gymnastics’ siblings.
With Caloy Yulo already at the top of his game and winning medals in the world stage, his younger brother Karl and sister Elaiza are looking forward to following in his footsteps.
In the recent JRC Artistic Gymnastics Stars Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, the younger Yulos combined for a 10-gold medal haul, with Elaiza winning four golds after topping the Individual All-Around, Floor Exercise Vault, and Uneven Bars in the women’s juniors competition.
The 14-year-old Karl, a Grade 9 student at Adamson University, collected six medals, including gold in the Floor Exercise. He took three silver medals (Pommel Horse, Vault, and Parallel) and the bronze in the Still Rings.
The Yulos’ mother, Angelica, who has been providing updates on her social media page, said Elaiza is now preparing for her overseas training in Kansas, USA, to further hone her skills. Elaiza, 13, is currently in Grade 8, also at Adamson University.
“Naghihintay na lang po ng kanyang visa for a three-to-six-month traing,” the Yulo matriarch told Manila Standard in an interview.
The training is supported by Elaiza’s home club, Alpha Gymnastics of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines has previously announced that Karl will follow his older brother Caloy in Japan for training starting in December.
“Unti-unti na po nilang natutupad ang kanilang mga pangarap at darating ang araw na ang lahat ng paghihirap at sakripisyo nila ay magbubunga ng maganda,” added Angelica, who once told the story about Caloy playing at a playground near their house, which is just a stone’s throw away from the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Caloy and his grandfather stumbled upon the gymnastics’ gym located inside the historic complex and the rest is history.