Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo in the 2026 Asian Games. POC Media
NAGOYA – Double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo returned to Japan for the 20th Asian Games with a new look, ready to face fresh challenges.
Yulo led the Philippine Men's Artistic Gymnastics Team on the first day of qualifications on Monday, sporting blonde highlights in his hair and a tattoo on his neck.
The 26-year-old qualified for three finals — floor exercise, vault, and parallel bars — despite failing to land cleanly on his dismounts in the latter two apparatuses.
Yulo expressed disappointment in his performance, but was grateful he did not injure himself during his falls on the vault and horizontal bar.
READ: Yulo brothers qualify for floor exercise final in men's artistic gymnastics
He admitted it has been years since he last competed on the horizontal bar, as he turned his focus primarily to his pet events: the floor exercise and vault.
The Olympic gold medalist said one of the first things he told himself was to stay in the moment, leaning on his faith to guide him through the routines.
"It's really really hard to accept din siguro po kasi it's, gusto kong manalo but at the same time china-challenge ko 'yung sarili ko. If it's same performance all the time, I feel like there's no growth anymore. So challenging myself and 'yung matanggap na nagkamali ako today, it's also a part of my way of doing things," Yulo told POC Media.
"It didn't go well today but may mga ilo-look forward pa po tayo. May finals pa and may World Championships sa next month. So my faith still, hindi pa tapos, hindi pa tapos. Marami pang pwedeng mangyari," he added.
His faith is literally and figuratively with him on his journey, as he showed off the crucifix-shaped tattoo on his neck.
"After Asian Championships, there's a lot of challenges po talaga na nangyari sa akin.... But yeah, ang daming nangyari and feeling ko mas napalapit ako kay Lord. So I put it kasi kahit hindi ko siya nakikita,. Ayun talaga 'yung meaning n'on eh kasi 'yung faith hindi mo naman po talaga siya nakikita eh, you really just feel it eh," Yulo explained.
"Matagal ko na talaga gustong magpakulay. Wala lang time... And I feel like it's, this is a really great timing po to change also kasi parang puro na lang ako black eh. It's so simple pero gusto ko din mag-try po ng different type of style," he said of his blonde highlights.
CALOY RETURNS TO JAPAN
Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo in the 2026 Asian Games. POC Media
Yulo's second Asian Games appearance is also a homecoming of sorts, since he spent years training in Japan on his road to Olympic gold.
The 26-year-old cherished the opportunity to be back in a familiar place, competing anew alongside his younger brother Eldrew, who also trained in Japan.
"It feels like home talaga. Pag every time na magkocompete or mag-training camps ako dito. Hindi na siya ganun kabago po sa akin. Mag-stay ka po dito ng almost 8 years, parang na-adapt ko na din kung paano po 'yung culture nila, kung paano sila bilang atleta. And siyempre, iba' yung normal na tao sa culture ng atleta dito," he said.
Despite being back in his former training ground, Yulo acknowledged the challenges athletes are facing in the continental showcase.
The 26-year-old remains hopeful his fellow athletes will push through and perform their best amid all the challenges and outside noise.
"So 'yung sports talaga, sobrang init po niya dito talaga sa Japan. But at the same time, siguro medyo nakakalungkot. Kasi sobrang challenging sa lahat ng tao po. Naintindihan ko 'yung sitwasyon ngayon sa lahat ng staff, sa lahat ng athletes, coaches, delegations, delegates. Sobrang hindi ko siya din na-expect na ganito yung mangyayari sa games na ito. I really thought na smooth siya," he said.
"I feel like dagdag factor po 'yun na isipin, na dapat hindi na isipin ng mga atleta. Kahit hindi ko po siya sasabihin sa interviews ko, other athletes will say it eh. And nahihirapan ako din kahit for me, it's really ano din eh. Mahirap siya na task. Then magpe-perform ka na dapat hindi mo na 'yun talaga naiisip eh. Only for 4 months na 'yung dapat na focus natin eh. But I'm still grateful," Yulo added.
As he turns his focus to the men's artistic gymnastics apparatus finals, Yulo remains grateful for the opportunity to represent the Philippines and hopefully bring glory to the country once again.
The Olympic gold medalist is eyeing a better performance in this edition of the Asian Games after making his debut in the continental showcase in 2018.
"I'm still happy sa kung ano man 'yung na-achieve ko today. And for me, sobrang daming lesson talaga na naturo sa akin ng competition na ito. Sobrang daming gasolina nito para sa akin," he said.