For much of Eldrew Yulo’s horizontal bar final, his attention was fixed on one thing: the competition.
When the routine was over, however, he immediately looked for the people who had been with him throughout the journey.
His family. And most of all, his older brother Carlos. The 18-year-old Eldrew captured the bronze medal in the men’s horizontal bar final with 13.666 points at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, adding another historic moment to the Yulo family’s campaign in Nagoya.
Eldrew was second in the order of competition and initially led the field with his 13.666 score.
He then had to wait as the remaining finalists attempted to surpass him, with China’s Tian Hao eventually scoring 14.700 and Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka posting 14.033.
Those results pushed Eldrew down, but his score held up for the bronze.
For Carlos, the wait was difficult.
He was busy doing interviews and was unable to watch his brother’s entire routine, leaving him with only updates and his own prayers as the results unfolded.
“E, dun ako kinakabahan kapag ’di ko nakikita. So, ’di ko rin napanood yung mismong routine niya,” said the older Yulo.
Carlos admitted that the tension was real because he knew how strong the field was.
“Just really praying kanina habang nasa interview kami na, ‘Sana, Lord God, kahit bronze lang, okay na, okay na.’ Kasi alam ko, malalakas din yung mga kalaban niya,” Caloy continued.
Even with his own success in the vault final, Carlos said his emotions were mixed as he waited for Eldrew’s result.
“So, yeah, ’di ko rin alam kung ano ma-feel ko kanina kasi nalaglag iyung idol ko din. So, ’di ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o malulungkot ako para sa kanya,” Carlos said.
In the end, however, the elder brother could only take pride in what Eldrew had accomplished.
“Si Eldrew iyung ngayon na nabunot at nanalo po siya. So, really, iyung effort na ibinigay niya para dito, nakaka-proud po,” Carlos said.
For Eldrew, the most emotional part came when the last performer finished and he knew his medal was within reach.
His first instinct was to look toward his family.
“Nung tapos na iyung last performer, sila iyung una kong tinitingnan. Sila iyung nilu-look ko. Kung andun ba si kuya?” said Eldrew.
Carlos was there.
And the words coming from the stands gave Eldrew a moment he would not forget.
“Sa’yo na ’yan! Sa’yo na ’yan,” shouted Carlos.
Eldrew said the moment brought together every emotion at once.
“Sobrang mixed emotions kanina. Sobrang nakakaiyak, sobrang nakakatawa,” Eldrew explained.
The bronze also connected to something Carlos had previously encouraged Eldrew to do turn his doubts into positive “what ifs.”
Eldrew revealed that he reflected on those thoughts the night before.
“So, ayan din po yung nireflect ko kagabi. Habang naliligo and habang nagsusulat, ‘what ifs,’ pero in positive naman po.”
Carlos knows that the bronze medal is only one step in what he believes will be a long career for his younger brother.
He also knows that difficult days will inevitably come. “Nasa stage na pagdadaanan niya po talaga ’yung mga ganitong mga pangyayari at hindi po natin ’yung maiiwasan bilang atleta,” Carlos said.
And his message to Eldrew is not complicated.
“Bago ka manalo, part po ’to talaga ng winning process na mahirapan, matalo, matuto, magkamali, at siyempre bumangon po ulit, paulit-ulit. Wala nang sawa,” he continued.
Carlos has already reached the highest levels of gymnastics.
Now, he wants his younger brother to embrace the same process.
“Ako, para sa akin, nasa exciting part si Eldrew. Huwag lang siya sumuko. I feel like he’s really a talented kid. Darating at darating ’yung para sa kanya, naniniwala po ako,” Carlos said.
The medal belongs to Eldrew.
But the moment belonged to two brothers who understood exactly what it took to get there. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
