MANILA -- Filipino gymnast Eldrew Yulo is setting a lofty goal for himself in the World Junior Artistic Championships, which the Philippines will host in November.
The 16-year-old will compete in all apparatus.
"I'm going to do my very best to get gold, get everything and not to have injury," he said. "All-around is my target priority."
The younger brother of double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, Eldrew is also targeting to qualify to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles -- where he hopes to compete alongside his "kuya."
READ: Eldrew Yulo now training in Japan in hopes of making it to Olympics
"Hindi ko po siya (Carlos) parang rival. Ang gusto ko lang po talaga is 'yung goal ko na ma-achieve 'yun (gold medals)," said Eldrew. "Ginagawa ko po siyang motivation para magawa ko kung ano 'yung nararapat ko gawin."
Yulo is now training in Japan under his brother's former coach, Munehiro Kugimiya, to further develop as an athlete. He has been training for six to eight hours a day in Japan while also balancing his online schooling.
"Siguro po mas nakikita ko na nag-iimprove ako sa Japan nang mas mabilis po. 'Yun nga, ang dami ko nakikita na sobrang gagaling pero sila pa 'yung hindi nakakapasok… 'Dun din po ako nakakakita ng inspirasyon," Yulo said.
Adding to Yulo's motivation is that this will be his first and last time to compete in the world juniors, as he is expected to move up to the senior ranks afterward.
"This is going to be my first and last time competing in the world juniors and in the Philippines yet. Next year I will be competing as a senior, so may konting pressure," acknowledged the athlete, who won a vault bronze medal in the Asian junior tournament.
READ: Eldrew Yulo enters 5 apparatus finals in Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships 2025
"He's training now specifically for the Junior World. But then he's going to go back and continue training already for the Olympics," said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion.
Carrion said they are working hard to produce a world-class event on November 16-25, as 90 countries and almost a thousand gymnasts are expected to compete.
The main venue will be the Newport Resorts Ballroom.
Aside from Yulo, also expected to fly the flag for the Philippines is US-based Elisabeth Antone, who bagged the bronze medal in the Asian junior gymnastics meet held last June in Jecheon, South Korea.