No Carlos Yulo in SEA Games 2025, steps aside to let teammates shine under one-apparatus rule 

Filipino gymnastics superstar and Olympian medalist Carlos Yulo will not compete in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Bangkok, Thailand, choosing instead to give his teammates the chance to shine under new event restrictions, Oct 18.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion confirmed that Yulo decided to step aside after the host nation, Thailand, introduced a new rule limiting male gymnasts to just one apparatus in the individual artistic gymnastics events.

The change significantly affects Yulo, a two-time Olympic gold medalist known for excelling across multiple apparatuses.

Under the new rules, the SEA Games will feature only individual apparatus finals, removing both the team and individual all-around events.

Each country may field only two gymnasts per category, two for men’s artistic and two for women’s artistic gymnastics, and every gymnast is allowed to compete in just one apparatus final, even if they qualify for more than one.

Yulo, one of Asia’s top gymnasts, dominated the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, capturing gold medals in the men’s individual all-around and parallel bars, silver in the team and still rings, and helping the Philippines secure eight medals overall, with four golds, two silvers, and one bronze.

Among those expected to lead the team are floor exercise gold medalist Ivan Cruz and vault champion Miguel Besana, both aiming to defend their titles.

Yulo’s younger sister, Elaiza Yulo, a multiple Palarong Pambansa gold medalist, is also anticipated to join the women’s national squad soon.

Even as he sits out the SEA Games, Yulo remains focused on the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships set for Oct. 19-25 in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he will once again represent the Philippines on the world stage.

The Philippines’ lineup for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will feature Yulo’s teammates John Ivan Cruz, Juancho Miguel Besana, and Justine Ace De Leon for the men’s team, while Aleah Finnegan, Haylee Garcia, Elaiza Yulo, and Emma Malabuyo will represent the women’s squad.

Yulo’s absence may be felt in Bangkok, but his decision to step aside highlights both his sportsmanship and his confidence in the next generation of Filipino gymnasts.