Asian Games double gold medalist Carlos Yulo was nonchalant about the prospect of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics when asked about it during Team Philippines’ welcome ceremony at the Century Seafood Restaurant. But beneath it, the Olympic champion twice over appears to have cooked up a plan to make it to Los Angeles.
“I’m gonna do my best and show up,” said Yulo, who later on bared what is essentially a good plan for qualifying in the Olympiad in two years. That plan, evidently, involves being more of an observer in the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships scheduled on October 17–25 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
That’s because the upcoming World Championships has no bearing on who makes it to Los Angeles in 2028. The one that does is next year’s edition, set to be held in Chengdu, China.
“I’m not expecting anything in the Worlds. I just want to observe the competitors,” said the many-time world champion. “The most important is next year’s edition since it will be a qualifier for the Olympics. But for this one, I just want to see the rotation. I’m praying that we will be safe competing there.”
That sounds like a plan, and it could set Carlos Yulo up for another crack at Olympic glory.
Carlos Yulo Has Nothing Else to Prove
At this point, Carlos Yulo at 26 has nothing else to prove. With his double gold at the 20th Asian Games, he is one of only two Filipinos—the other being Filipina trailblazer Hidilyn Diaz—to win everything there is on offer: Olympics, World Championship, Asian Games, Asian Championship, and SEA Games. He is also, far and away, the most successful Filipino gymnast and arguably one of the greatest athletes the Philippines has ever produced.
The numbers are, in fact, as staggering as they are mesmerizing: 28 gold medals across the Olympics, World Championship, Asian Games, Asian Championship, and SEA Games, plus 13 silver and 7 bronze medals.
What this all means is that yes, Carlos Yulo can pick and choose his spots moving forward. If he wants to be more observer than fierce competitor in The Netherlands later this month, it is certainly well within his right—especially if the trade-off is acing next year’s World Championships in China.
Then again, don’t be surprised if Carlos Yulo still puts on a show.
