Karl Eldrew Yulo pushed through the pain of a right-ankle injury to claim the men’s floor exercise bronze at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in Pasay City on Sunday, Nov. 23. The young Filipino standout delivered a poised and disciplined routine inside the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom despite the limitations caused by his injury.

Yulo hurt his ankle the previous day, forcing him to adjust his usual powerful style for safer, controlled landings. Competing second among the eight finalists, he absorbed a .100 penalty for stepping out of bounds on his second pass. The deduction placed him in an anxious wait as the rest of the field completed their routines.

China’s Yang Langbin surpassed his score with a 13.833 to secure the gold, while Italy’s Simone Speranza followed with a 13.766 for silver. Yulo’s 13.733 held firm for bronze, a razor-thin margin that would have positioned him for silver had the penalty not been applied. His score differed from the 14.300 he registered during the all-around finals where he topped the event.

Yulo pushes through pain in emotional final junior event

Yulo said the moment was overwhelming, noting that the emotion came not only from the performance but from the realization that this marked the end of his junior career. He admitted the ankle remained painful, but he and his team focused on finishing strong and giving the hometown crowd something to cheer for.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said the result was understandable given the injury. She requested Yulo’s Japanese physiotherapist, Junpei Kono, to extend his stay to continue treatment, especially with vault and high bar events still ahead for the young gymnast.

Carrion added that the team remained hopeful that Yulo’s condition would improve in time, acknowledging the emotional weight of his brave performance amid challenging circumstances.

Officials hail Yulo’s grit and rising potential

PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, seated beside FIG president Morinari Watanabe during the performance, described the tension of watching the routine. He said he “could not breathe” while Yulo competed, calling him “Carlos Yulo 2.0” and emphasizing that the young Filipino showed he could stand toe-to-toe with some of the best junior gymnasts in the world.

Officials highlighted that Yulo’s age and the quality of the field made his podium finish even more impressive, noting that his performance offers a promising glimpse into his transition to senior competition.