WHEN Eldrew Yulo’s mother Angelica got a chance to speak during the press conference after the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, one of the people that she thanked was Reyland Capellan.
A former national gymnast, Capellan has been handling Yulo since he was five years old and was by his side during the biggest feat of his pupil, by far, when he claimed the bronzes in the floor and horizontal bar at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
“[Nagpapasalamat kami] kay coach Reyland na walang sawang umiintindi at nagtuturo sa kanya since five years old si Eldrew,” said Angelica. “Siya na ‘yung naghubog kay Eldrew, ang nagtiyaga kahit na meron din sila ng hindi napagkakaunawaan. Pero at the end of the day, napa-patch up naman nila ‘yun.”
READ Eldrew Yulo wins second Junior Worlds bronze in horizontal bar
Capellan has been there from the beginning, handling Yulo even during the time when the coach was still active with the national team. Prior to the Carlos Yulo years, Capellan was one of the top names in Philippine gymnastics, bagging two gold medals in the SEA Games in 2015 and 2017, both in the floor exercise.
During his athletic career, Capellan was also coached by Munehiro Kugimiya. But nothing prepared him for the responsibility given to him – to coach Eldrew, whom the Japanese coach had long seen as a potential champion.
Capellan admitted that, at first, he didn’t want to enter the coaching ranks.
“Siguro nararamdaman ni coach Mune na wala akong balak mag-coach that time kasi gusto ko maging culinary,” said Capellan. “Nag-uusap kami ni coach Mune about doon na ayokong magturo kasi na-experience ko ‘yung mga ka-teammate ko na magugulo, baka hindi ko kayang ma-handle.”
“Nung nagkukuwentuhan kami noon, after three to four months, si coach Mune nag-decide na okay turuan mo ito ng morning tapos training ka sa akin ng hapon. Nagkaroon ako ng estudyante. Si Eldrew nga, nang dahil sa kanya kasi gusto niya na mag-coach ako. Gusto niya na ako magpatuloy ng gymnastics sa Pilipinas pag-alis niya.”
Need help from former coach
After his athletic career came to an end, Capellan eventually embraced the world of coaching that Kugimiya had set him out to do. Capellan handled more champion gymnasts over the years, able to share his knowledge from the years of experience with the national team.
However, it soon became apparent to Capellan that Yulo is so special that he needed to be trained at a higher level in order to succeed on the world stage.
So he sought help from his old coach in Kugimiya, who was largely acclaimed for his contributions to Eldrew's older brother Carlos' historic two-gold medal haul in the 2024 Paris Olympics even though the two had parted ways prior.
“He is my second father. Siya ‘yung una kong coach. Siya ang nagturo sa akin. Nag-try lang ako, sinubukan kong makiusap na puwedeng tulungan niya ako kasi hindi ako sure kung kaya kong i-handle si Eldrew para maging top gymnast.”
“Nagsisimula pa lang ako. For eight years, nakasama ko si Eldrew. Oo nakakapag-medal kami international, napalakas ko si Eldrew. Pero pakiramdam ko, hindi sapat na ako lang. Mas minabuti kong makiusap kay coach Mune na please help me, tulungan mo ako para kay Eldrew kasi hindi sapat ‘yung kakayahan ko,” said Capellan.
Kugimiya agreed and set Eldrew to train in Japan for seven months prior to the Junior World Championships.
Capellan said the improvement was remarkable.
“Sobrang laki nang inimprove ni Eldrew since tinanggap ni Coach Mune ‘yung pakiusap namin na baka puwede i-handle ni Coach Mune ‘yung estudyante ko,” said Capellan.
But ultimately, Yulo still needed words of encouragement from his longtime coach as he competed in the apparatus finals with an ankle sprain. Capellan said pulling Yulo out of the finals was an option due to the injury, but Yulo insisted on competing.
“(During the horizontal bar final), kinakausap ko siya doon sa competition, naglolokohan pa kami kasi nga medyo nahihirapan na siya dahil sa sobrang pagod at ‘yung injury, ‘yung sakit na nararamdaman niya sa ankle niya. So sinasabi ko sa kanya,, ‘Sige, pustahan tayo. Mananalo ka. Papasok ka diyan. Galingan mo lang.’ ‘Yun lang lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya para ma-encourage siya at makalimutan niya ‘yung sakit.
READ Eldrew Yulo to resume Japan training after two-bronze haul
"Sinasabi ko lang sa kanya na kapag masakit, isipin mo lang na hindi masakit, pabiro ko ‘yun sinasabi sa kanya,” said Capellan.
Capellan did win the bet – a treat to a nearby restaurant at the Marriott Grand Ballroom Hotel – when he snared the bronze in the horizontal bar, a fitting finish to his career before Yulo moves to the seniors division where bigger competitions await.
While Yulo will continue to train under the watchful eyes of Kugimiya, Capellan will stick around to guide him for the long run, including the 2028 Olympics.
Yulo's mom Angelica sure hopes so.
“Hopefully, makita natin sila (Eldrew and Coach Reyland) sa LA 2028 Olympics at sa mga susunod na laban nila," the Yulo matriarch said.
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