Hillarion Palles Opens Dakar Gymnastics Campaign as Philippines Battles Long Odds

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Hillarion Palles III opened Team Philippines’ artistic gymnastics campaign at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Saturday, but coach Reyland Capellan said the country faces a steep climb. Palles competed in the men’s individual all-around.

Palles is one of two Filipino artistic gymnasts competing at the Dakar Exhibition Center, a sprawling complex about 35 kilometers east of the capital. Tchelzy Maayo takes part in the women’s individual all-around on Sunday.

Hillarion Palles III represents the Philippines in the men’s individual all-around at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. [POC Media Pool]

PH Faces Gymnastics Disadvantage

Capellan said the Japanese and Chinese have full teams in Dakar and are favored to dominate. “We’re only given two slots in the YOG and only the team and individual all-around events are programmed here,” he told POC Media Pool.

“We won’t have any chance at all anymore for the team gold, and in the all-around, it would be difficult for a podium finish, you have to be more than average in all apparatus,” Capellan added. Palles has the vault and high bar as his forte, Capellan said.

Maayo’s best events are the floor exercise and vault, Capellan said. She missed the bronze by one point at the Asian juniors championships in Zunyi, China, in June.

Krog, Maayo Eye Sunday Action

“I’ve been having fun so far as I try to get focused,” said Maayo, who has competed in at least nine foreign competitions since 2017. “I’ll perform my best, medal or not.”

The Philippine Olympic Committee, headed by Abraham Tolentino, sent the delegation with support from the Philippine Sports Commission, chaired by Patrick Gregorio. Nine Filipino athletes are competing in the Games.

Maritanya Krog, 17, tested the women’s road race course on Saturday and felt ready for Sunday’s medal event. The cycling team held its first official training at the Corniche, an 8.50-kilometer, relatively flat route along the Atlantic Ocean.

“The wind will be a factor and the heat, of course, although Ems [Krog’s nickname] trained in the heat back home,” said coach Mark John Lexer Galedo. He is assisted by fellow national coach Marita Lucas.

Naomi Caesar competes in the women’s 800 meters at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop in Dakar on Monday. Krog returns to the Corniche for the individual time trial, and Pi Wangkay runs the men’s 200 meters on Tuesday.

Jade Justiniane will be Team Philippines’ last competitor, starting in windsurfing on Wednesday at Saly Beach West. The Games run through Nov. 13.