CARLOS Yulo, the country's first-ever double Olympic gold medalist, said he looks forward to paying it forward to the grassroots where he also came from.
In an interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila posted on YouTube Friday, Yulo said a facility to help develop young gymnasts is already under construction.
"I won’t be an athlete forever. I can’t do this until I’m in my 50s, so I really wanted to — actually, we’re building a gym. It’s currently under construction with Filinvest," said the 26-year-old Yulo.
"We’re going to start there, and I also want to build gyms in Cebu, Davao, and in the provinces because that’s where the athletes with potential are."
A product of the Palarong Pambansa who then trained in Japan as a 16-year-old, Yulo said he will be a coach himself.
"Yes, I will coach. That’s the only pathway for me — to give back to the sport that I really love."
Yulo is expected to lead the charge for the Philippine gymnastics team with his younger brother 18-year-old Karl Eldrew in the Asian Games from Sept. 21 to Oct. 3 in Nagoya, Japan.
With Yulo leading the pack alongside tennis star Alex Eala and pole vault ace EJ Obiena, the Philippine Olympic Committee is looking at the possibility of winning around eight gold medals.
In the last Asian Games edition in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, the Philippines bagged a total of four gold medals. NIEL VICTOR MASOY
