MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ lone representative at the 2015 International Junior Gymnastics Competition bagged a bronze medal in the Boys’ Vault Event Final on Thursday, September 24 at Yokohoma Cultural Gym in Japan.
Carlos Yulo, 15, stood out in a field deep with gymnasts from powerhouse countries, China, Great Britain, Japan, Russia, Ukraine and the USA to earn the Philippines its first international medal in the Juniors (14-18) category.
The gold went to the Youth Olympic Games Champion from Great Britain, and the Silver went to China.
The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, with backing from the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, has been undergoing a system overhaul in past years, starting with the technical training of its coaches and officials.
In October 2013, Coach Munehiro Kugiyama from Japan was hired, together with National Coach Van Simon Talinting to revamp the men’s program.
The results have been immediate, with two boys qualifying for the finals of the Pacific Rim Championships in 2014 and the country earning a gold and bronze at the Southeast Asian Games this year in Singapore.
The next international event for Philippine gymnastics will be the World Championships in Glasgow, Poland in October. – Rappler.com