Eldrew Yulo snared two bronze medals in the floor exercise and horizontal bar at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series Cairo Leg on April 5 and 6 in Egypt to power his run to qualify for the World Championships later this year.
The 18-year-old started a promising campaign with podium finishes in an international field despite competing with a lingering right ankle injury that has affected his landings since the Junior Worlds last November.
“Happy naman po. Grateful pa rin naman po sa naging outcome. Alam kong kaya ko pa pero since may masakit sa akin kaya parang na-limit na lang po yung galaw ko po,” Yulo said to ABS-CBN News in an interview following the floor exercise final, reflecting on his performance under physical strain.
Yulo seized bronze in the floor exercise as he notched 14.0 points, trailing behind Russia’s gold finisher Daniel Marinov with 14.233 points and Arsenii Dukhno, who clinched 14.133 points for silver.
“In a field of fierce competitors, Eldrew Yulo rose to the challenge! CONGRATULATIONS, ELDREW! We are incredibly proud of you!” the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines said in a social media post.
He then followed it up with another bronze in the horizontal bar after tallying 13.733 points to capture his first senior World Cup medal in the apparatus.
Yulo finished behind China’s Li Hongyan with 14.4 points for gold, while Cyprus’ Marios Georgiou snagged 13.9 points for the silver medal.
The Cairo showing gave the Pinoy his third World Cup medal, following a floor exercise gold in Antalya which firmed up his grip for a World Championship berth in Rotterdam this October.
Under the World Cup system, only the top eight per apparatus based on best four results advance, with Yulo leading the floor standings behind his Antalya gold and sixth-place finish in Baku last March.
He now eyes to test his mettle against the world’s best in the final leg at Osijek, Croatia on April 9-12.
Written by Rain Rellora, Insight PH
Rain Rellora, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
