CALOY Yulo is scheduled to compete again in the big stage as he gears up for the 2022 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool, United Kingdom from October 29 to November 6.
Yulo is slated to leave for Liverpool on Tuesday after a five-day camp in Paris and months of training in his base in Japan.
He will be defending his gold in the vault, while gunning for the top prize in the parallel bars after settling for a silver in the apparatus. Yulo is also eyeing gold in the floor exercise after finishing fifth last year in Kitakyushu, Japan.
For this world championship, however, the 22-year-old Yulo is looking to level up on his performance amidst a few challenges.
Yulo is coming off an injury in his right middle and ring fingers which he suffered two months ago in Japan while building up new elements in his routine in a bid for higher scores for the world championships.
Yulo admitted capturing medals will also be tough as the World Championship this year will see a full field after some of the top gymnasts skipped last year’s edition that was held months after the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“Siguro sa floor and vault, malaki pa rin ang chance na maka-get ng medals. Sa p-bar, medyo lumiit na po dahil sasali ‘yung mga nag-Olympics nung 2021,” said Yulo during a virtual press conference from Paris.
“Mas liliit ‘yung chance kahit taasan ko ‘yung D score (difficulty) ko. Tinaasan ko naman pero hindi ko alam kung aabot kasi marami pong malakas na babalik sa world championships.”
Yulo will now be competing in all of the events, making him eligible to vie for a medal in the all-around. Head coach Munehiro Kugimiya said they are eyeing to score at least 85 in order to end up in the top eight.
Yulo said he has been working on improving his D score in the rings, and trying new elements in the vault.
“Maraming challenges kasi ‘yung target din po kasi na score sa individual all-around, medyo mataas. Nagii-struggle din po ako,” said Yulo.
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