FILIPINO gymnastics star Carlos Yulo will not be competing in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December due to a controversial rule that limits him to winning only one medal.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carreon confirmed the news, stating that Yulo, the Olympic double gold medalist, has decided to trust his teammates to perform well in his absence. Carreon criticized the host country, Thailand, for prioritizing medal count over the athletes’ opportunities. This marks the second time a SEA Games host nation has imposed a medal cap in gymnastics, a move widely seen as an attempt to prevent Yulo from dominating the competition, following his impressive performances in the 2019 and 2021 editions.
Yulo has been a dominant force in the SEA Games, becoming the most bemedalled Filipino athlete in both the 2019 and 2021 editions. In 2023, despite a limit of four medals, he still managed to secure two golds and two silvers, while his teammates also achieved gold medals in other events. Carreon revealed that Thailand has also removed the individual all-around and team competitions from the gymnastics program. Yulo is currently in Jakarta, Indonesia, competing in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
