Carlos Yulo to skip Thailand SEA Games due to new rules

The Philippines will not have Carlos Yulo leading its gymnastics team in the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, as the multi-medalist has decided to skip the biennial event.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion confirmed the development, stating that Yulo opted out due to new rules imposed by the organizers.

Unlike in previous editions, the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand will limit athletes to just one apparatus each.

"[The SEA Games] should be a festive occasion for us and Carlos wants to give his teammates [a] chance to win in as much as only one apparatus they can win," Carrion told GMA News Online in a message on Saturday. 

"And the saddest part is that there is no team competition, which is the most exciting and we have a big chance to win like we did in Vietnam."

Yulo, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has won multiple medals in the SEA Games, including two golds and two silvers in the Cambodia edition in 2023 where he ruled the individual all-around and parallel bars. 

This year, however, Yulo is stepping aside to make room for his teammates as the Philippines aims to continue its dominance in gymnastics.

He will still compete in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, which begin tomorrow.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News