Eldrew Yulo ended his Junior World Championships campaign with another podium finish on Tuesday, November 25, nabbing a bronze medal in the horizontal bar at the Marriott Manila Grand Ballroom in Pasay City. The 17-year-old worked through an ankle injury yet delivered a composed, polished routine that earned 14.000 points, including a bonus for a clean landing, briefly placing him in silver-medal territory.

The crowd erupted as his score flashed on the screen, sensing another breakthrough from the hometown bet. With only two athletes left, the possibility of a higher finish hung in the air, especially after an already impressive week in which Yulo reached multiple finals and secured a podium on floor.

But Colombia’s Camilo Vera, performing last, produced a superb routine that earned 14.533 points and sealed the gold. American Danila Leykin, who opened the rotation, finished with 14.233 to take silver.

Yulo closes out junior career with multiple milestones

Yulo’s bronze added to his earlier medal on floor, capping a campaign in which he also reached the vault and all-around finals. He admitted the moment felt surreal, especially as he completed his final appearance at the junior level before officially moving into the senior ranks.

He shared how the effort behind the scenes made the achievement even more meaningful, crediting the guidance of coach Reyland Capellan. The support of the home crowd, which cheered throughout every phase of his routine, lifted the young gymnast as he battled discomfort.

Yulo had another near-podium finish on vault, where he averaged 13.716 points. For a brief moment, it seemed enough for bronze. But Individual Neutral Athlete Arsenii Dukhno, performing next, edged him out with a stronger second vault to secure the gold with 14.333. Britons Sol Scott and Evan McPhilipps, once in medal positions, were pushed down to silver and bronze after Dukhno’s surge.

A family moment on home soil

The emotional weight of the night struck deepest when Yulo spotted his older brother, Olympic champion Carlos Yulo, waiting just outside the arena. The younger gymnast ran to embrace him, beaming as he proudly shared his two-bronze haul.

Their parents, Mark and Angelica Yulo, also expressed gratitude during a separate press briefing, thanking long-time national coach Munehiro Kugimiya for developing their son and nurturing both siblings’ growth within the sport. They said they hoped to see Eldrew continue progressing toward a possible appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.