The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association meeting on November 18, 2025, that she is hopeful Filipino gymnasts can win gold medals in the upcoming 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships.
Karl Eldrew Yulo’s Intensive Japan Training Fuels Medal Expectations
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion is placing strong confidence in Karl Eldrew Yulo as he enters his final campaign as a junior athlete at the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, set to begin at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Newport World Resorts, Pasay City.
Carrion believes Yulo’s extended stint in Japan, where he trained for five months at the Sohgoh Gymnastics Club in Nagoya under renowned coach Munehiro Kugimiya, has prepared him well for the challenge.
Kugimiya, who guided Carlos Edriel Yulo to world and Olympic success and won 2 Gold Olympic medals, is expected to have polished the younger Yulo’s routines to world-class standard.
“Eldrew has been training very, very well in Japan, so if everything goes according to plan, he may be good for one or two golds,” Carrion said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum in Manila. She added that the 17-year-old excels particularly in the floor exercise, parallel bars, rings, and vault disciplines, where he has consistently shown promise, including a bronze medal in vault at the Asian Junior Championships in Jecheon last July.
“He (Yulo) excels in all of these four events, and if he is able to do what he is supposed to do, he will win golds,” Carrion noted.
Team Philippines Strengthens Line-Up After FIG Approval
Initially, the Philippines expected to field only two competitors, which were Yulo and Elizabeth Antone.
With the country having skipped the previous two editions of the World Juniors, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) initially denied its request to enter full teams.
“Despite the fact that we were the host country, the International Gymnastics Federation declined our request to field teams, which may be sad,” Carrion explained.
“But suddenly, the FIG belatedly told us we could field teams so that we had to undergo an evaluation so other gymnasts will join Karl Eldrew and Elizabeth Antone, who were supposed to be our lone representatives in each division.”
After the evaluation, GAP confirmed a complete men’s and women’s squad. Joining Yulo in the men’s lineup are Hilarion Palles III, John Anthony Palles, and CJ Pernia, who were standouts from the recent Batang Pinoy National Championships.
The women’s team will be composed of Antone, Maxine Bondoc, Sabina Tayag, and Jellian Bantilan.
Carrion acknowledged that competing for team honors will not be easy, as the Philippines will face deep contingents from traditional powerhouses such as Japan, China, the United States, and Malaysia. Still, she believes the international exposure will be invaluable.
“But this will be a good experience and exposure for them and they are only bound to get better,” she said.
Global Participation Highlights Growing Interest in Gymnastics
Ahead of the tournament’s opening, GAP welcomed delegations from 74 countries, with close to 750 gymnasts expected to compete. Athletes, coaches, and officials began arriving in the Philippines as early as last weekend.
“We would like to welcome all our athletes, coaches and officials who are taking part in the world juniors and we are grateful for their enthusiastic response to our international competition,” Carrion said, emphasizing the significance of hosting such a large-scale event.
She added that the turnout reflects the worldwide momentum of the sport.
“This shows the growing interest in this beautiful and dynamic Olympic sport worldwide, so FIG member countries are fielding their promising young gymnasts knowing that this is a major stepping stone to their development.”
The Junior Worlds have produced future stars, including multiple Olympic champion Oka Shinnosuke of Japan and Paris 2024 medalists such as Guan Chenchen, Angel Barajas, and Hezley Rivera.
This year’s event in Manila is expected to feature the next wave of elite talent.
Elizabeth Antone and Other Filipino Talents Also Poised for Breakthroughs
While much of the spotlight is on Yulo, Carrion also pointed to Antone as a rising gymnast to watch. Antone delivered strong results at the Asian Junior Championships, where she captured bronze medals in both the women’s individual all-around and vault.
The GAP chief expressed pride in the growing pool of Filipino gymnasts, noting that their international presence is essential in building on the legacy of Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, and Emma Malabuyo, who have already achieved global success.
“We pray that the exposure of our young gymnasts in this prestigious competition will inspire them to excel and perform better when they move up the senior ranks,” she said.
Promoting Local Interest: Free Viewing and a Colorful Opening Ceremony
Beyond competition, GAP aims to boost grassroots engagement.
Carrion announced that schoolchildren will be allowed to watch the opening day free of charge in hopes of filling the venue and inspiring a new generation of gymnasts.
“We are offering school children to watch the world championships for free, especially on the opening day on Nov. 20. We want the Grand Ballroom to be filled to the brim.”
The opening ceremony will feature a lively production headlined by Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda, who will perform the event’s official theme song, “Going for Gold.”
GAP board member and actor Derek Ramsay will serve as host for the festivities.
Carrion reaffirmed that the federation invested heavily in ensuring a memorable welcome for athletes and spectators, with support from major partners including San Miguel Corporation, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, ArenaPlus, Pocari Sweat, and government agencies.
