Eldrew Yulo now training in Japan in hopes of making it to Olympics

Karl Eldrew Yulo, brother of Olympic gymnast Carlos Yulo, performs during the men's artistic gymnastics event at the 2023 Palarong Pambansa in Manila on August 2, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — Karl Eldrew Yulo is now training in Japan, following the footsteps of his celebrated older brother -- double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo.

The younger Yulo, who is also one of the country’s finest in artistic gymnastics, is now working under Munehiro Kugimiya, Carlos’ previous Japanese coach who was vital in his rise to 2024 Paris Olympic glory.

READ: How Carlos Yulo was built into an Olympic champion

“I’m training there for my routine. Me and coach Mune will fix my routine, lilinisin po namin lahat, and gagawa kami ng skills na bago,” said the 16-year-old Yulo during an appearance on Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Yulo is also in the middle of his preparations for the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships which the Philippines will be hosting later this year at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

He is looking to rule the said tournament which the country will host for the first time, and this is a part of his long-term goal to also make his mark in the quadrennial games, hopefully in the 2028 edition in Los Angeles.

“Nag start na kami two months ago, and I’m gonna stay there until the Olympics,” said Eldrew.

“He is training now specifically for the Junior Worlds, but he is gonna go back to train for the Olympics. If he is gonna be there for four years, then it’s gonna be four years,” added Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion.

Carlos started working with Kugimiya as a teenager, and their partnership resulted in a floor exercise gold in the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, as well as his qualification to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

While Eldrew hopes to reach -- or even surpass -- his brother's feats, he emphasized that he is his own man.
Brothers Carlos and Karl Eldrew Yulo during the 2024 PSA Awards Night, January 27, 2025 at the Manila Hotel. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News“Different species,” he quipped. “So ‘di ko po alam kung anong iduduplicate ko. We have different styles and different forms, so siguro, yung hardwork and yung surname lang ang madu-duplicate ko talaga.”

“They are different. Eldrew is a completely different animal,” added Carrion. “It’s not only the personality. Eldrew already started from the beginning wanting to do like his brother, Carlos started from scratch. Their circumstances are very different.”

Eldrew also understands the challenges of his overseas training, far away from his family in Leveriza, which is why he is thankful for how Coach Muna is making it a home away from home.

“Kahit nakakapagod, nakakahanap pa rin ng paraan si Coach Mune para mapasaya ako. Araw-araw, parang nagaasaran po kami ni Coach Mune, so nakakatulong siya na makapag focus ako,” said Eldrew, who trains there every day except for Monday.

“'Gusto mo maigng pogi? Galingan mo!' Nagta-Tagalog na po siya, at nakakahanap na po siya ng way para hindi ako ma-boring. Masaya po ako sa Japan, kahit mag isa,” he added.

Training in Japan has also widened his knowledge of gymnastics, especially as he gets to train with other elite athletes.

“Mas nakikita ko na mas nag-iimprove ako ng mabilis sa Japan,” he said. “Marami akong nakikita na sobrang galing, kaya doon ako nakakakita ng inspiration, na I can improve myself faster in comparison sa Pinas.”

But while his path is undeniably similar to his Kuya Caloy, what Eldrew is taking pride in is taking his own road the way he wants it.

“Hindi ko po siya rival, pero ginagawa ko po siyang inspiration and motivation, na kaya kong ma-achieve kung ano yung gusto ko,” Eldrew said.