19-year old Yulo wins historic gold for the PHL at world artistic gymnastics championship in Germany
Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo poses with gold medal on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men’s Floor event after the apparatus finals at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on October 12, 2019. (Photo by Thomas KIENZLE / AFP)
(Eagle News) — Filipino teenager Carlos Edriel Yulo made history as the first Filipino to win a gold medal at the world gymnastics championship on Saturday in Stuttgart, Germany.
With the win, the Philippine national anthem was played for the first time at the podium during awarding ceremonies at the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships late Saturday, Oct. 12.
Earlier this week, Yulo had also qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He is also the first male Southeast Asian gymnast to win a gold at the world competition.
(L-R) 2nd placed Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat, winner Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo and 3rd placed China’s Xiao Ruoteng pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men’s Floor event after the apparatus finals at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on October 12, 2019. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)
During Saturday’s competition, the 19-year-old took gold with a winning margin of just 0.1 points ahead of silver medallist Artem Dolgopyat of Israel, while China’s Xiao Ruoteng claimed bronze in Stuttgart.
He scored 15.300 points while second-placer Dolgopyat of Israel had 15.200. Third-placer China’s Xiao Ruoteng had 14.933 points.
Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo performs on the floor during the apparatus finals at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on October 12, 2019. (Photo by Thomas KIENZLE / AFP)Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo performs on the floor during the apparatus finals at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on October 12, 2019. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)
Last year, Yulo won the bronze in the competition held in Doha, Qatar.
The Filipino had been training hard in Japan since he was 16 under Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya.