After an impressive 2019 SEA Games performance, Carlos Edriel Yulo starts training anew, hoping to come out with an impressive 2020 Tokyo Olympics stint.
He did win two gold medals to go with five silvers for a seven medal haul back in December, wowing the local crowd with a great performance. But Caloy knows that his SEA Games performance may not be a yardstick on what the country will see from him in July.
![Carlos Edriel Yulo [Brian Yalung photo]](http://brianyalung.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Carlos-Edriel-Yulo-Brian-Yalung-photo.jpg)
“Nag-start talaga mag build confidence ko noong World Championships. Kasi yung mga kalaban ko po dun ang magiging kalaban ko din sa Olympics. Magkaibang level po kasi. Mas mataas ang nabigay sa akin ng World Championships kesa sa SEA Games,” Yulo said.
Caloy admits that he has low chances of copping the all-around individual event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. His best chances remain in the floor and vault exercises. This is something he and his Japanese coach, Munehiro Kugimiya, will try to work on.
And if Caloy’s revelation of his coach is to be believed, his chances should improve through the guidance of Kugimiya.
“Sa teachings, grabe po. Marami po siyang tinturo na techniques na hindi ko alam. Basta di applicable sa akin, gagawa siya ng panibago,” Yulo said.
Japanese coach strives for perfection
The 4-foot-11 gymnast also revealed how his coach pays attention to detail. Kugimiya takes videos and shows them to Caloy for him to see his mistakes.
“Kukunan po niya ako video tapos panuorin niya ng madaming beses. Pag-aaralan niya. By next day try ko uli then sasabihin niya sa akin mga mistakes ko,” he said.
Rule of Respect
Having been together for quite some time now, Caloy points out how his coach has one important rule that must not be broken, especially during competitions.
“May rule po siya na hindi pwede i-break. Simple rule lang talaga siya. Parang di ko siya pedeng ituring na kaibigan lang. Kelangan as a coach talaga,” Yulo said.
Caloy cites a practice that they do during competitions, something most probably saw at the 2019 SEA Games.
“Sa pag-lineup and pagbo-bow, yung iba po kasi pag next event na, lilipat kaagad. Bago po ako makalipat, lalapit po ako muna sa kanya. Bago po yun, pagsasabihan niya ako kung may kulang ako na ginawa at bigyan ng advice. Kahit di mo naman gawin, basta sinabi mo lilipat ka na, papayagan ka niya,” Yulo said.
Aware that this is a rule of respect, Caloy makes sure to follow this practice. He is aware of what the aftermath would be.
“Pag di mo po sinabi yun, di ka nya tuturuan. Parang you need to respect po talaga. Estudyante ka pa din niya.”
