CARLOS Yulo reminded his younger brother Eldrew that setbacks are part of becoming a winner after the latter finished seventh in the men’s floor exercise final, Thursday, at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Eldrew finished seventh with 12.233 points in Thursday’s Asian Games floor exercise final, which was won by his older brother Carlos with 14.666.
Carlos admitted he did not immediately get to speak with Eldrew after the competition because of media obligations, but said he knew his brother was disappointed.
Still, the elder Yulo believes moments like these are necessary for a young athlete’s development.
“I know disappointed siya, and nasa stage na pagdadaanan niya po talaga ’yung mga ganitong mga pangyayari at hindi po natin ’yung maiiwasan bilang atleta,” explained Carlos.
For Carlos, losing and making mistakes are not signs of failure, rather, they are part of the process that eventually leads to winning.
“Bago ka manalo, part po ’to talaga ng winning process na mahirapan, matalo, matuto, magkamali at siyempre bumangon po ulit, paulit-ulit,” Carlos emphasized.
And despite Eldrew’s seventh-place finish, Carlos sees something positive in what his younger brother is experiencing at his young age.
“Ako, para sa akin, nasa exciting part si Eldrew,” he said.
Carlos believes the talent is already there. What matters now is continuing to learn and refusing to quit.
“Huwag lang siya sumuko. I feel like he’s really a talented kid,” Carlos cntinued.
Then came the reassurance only an older brother could give, “darating at darating ’yung para sa kanya, naniniwala po ako.”
While Carlos celebrated his historic first Asian Games gold, he made sure the message to Eldrew was just as important: one disappointing result does not define an athlete.
For the younger Yulo, the lesson from Nagoya could become another step toward the moment his brother believes is coming. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
