Carlos Yulo turns to brother Karl Eldrew for tips at 2026 Asian Games - GMA Network

NAGOYA, JAPAN — Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo has spent years setting the standard for his younger brother Karl Eldrew.

However, at the 2026 Asian Games, Carlos is also finding himself on the other side of the conversation: asking Eldrew for tips.

“Especially kasi na hindi ko kayang gawin 'yung ginagawa niya sa high bar. Nagtatanong po ako sa kanya na inaalam ko 'yung feeling and 'yung technique kung paano niya ginagawa po 'yung skill na 'yun,” Carlos said after the men’s artistic gymnastics qualification round.

(I cannot do what he is doing in the high bar. I am asking him, checking how it feels and the technique he is using for that skill.)

The exchange offered a glimpse into the evolving relationship between the Yulo brothers, who both advanced to the men’s floor exercise apparatus final in Nagoya.

Carlos said their shared training has allowed them to learn from each other despite their age gap.

“Siguro as kuya din, nakakatuwa na ganun 'yung relationship namin na magkapatid na nagtatanungan, na nakukulitan, especially training. Sa outside kasi hindi pa din ganun kami kaano po, hindi magka-level po siguro 'yung age gap po namin.”

(As a brother, it's nice that we have that kind of relationship, someone you can ask and have fun with in training because outside, our age gap is still somehow far.)

For Eldrew, having his older brother — a double Olympic gold medalist — seek his advice was something he did not expect.

“Of course, nakaka-overwhelm na hindi ko rin naman po 'yun na-expect. I mean, hindi rin naman po ako 'yung pinakamagaling sa high bar but unexpected na nagtatanong siya kasi unang-una sa lahat, ako 'yung laging nagtatanong and gusto kong laging nagse-seek ako ng help kasi gusto ko rin po talagang matuto,” Eldrew said.

(It is overwhelming because I did not expect that either. I am not the best in high bar, but it is unexpected that he also asks me because I was the one who usually asks and seeks help because I also want to learn.)

Carlos had opened his Asian Games campaign strongly, scoring 14.600 on floor exercise during qualification.

But he struggled in some of the other apparatus, including a fall on vault — one of the events in which he won gold at the Paris Olympics — and on the horizontal bar.

Eldrew, meanwhile, posted higher scores than his brother on vault and horizontal bar.

Carlos admitted his overall performance fell short of what he had hoped for after his preparations for the Games.

“Hindi siya lumabas sa preparation na gusto ko. Ang daming learnings din na pwede kong baunin po sa mga susunod na araw at sa mga susunod na competition,” he said.

“Delikado po talaga 'yung pagkakamali ko kanina… unang-una 'yun talaga yung pumasok sa isip ko, stay in the moment… kalmado lang, bawi tayo sa mga susunod na apparatus po.”

(It was not what I prepared for in training. I had a lot of learnings also to take in the next few days and competitions. It was a bad mistake, but I stayed in the moment, stayed calm, and came back better in the next apparatus.)

Also competing for the Philippine men’s gymnastics team were Miguel Besana, Zachary Nunez and Ace de Leon.

With both Yulo brothers advancing to the floor exercise final, they now have another opportunity to contend for medals at the Asian Games — a competition where Carlos is still chasing one of the major titles missing from his collection.

Carlos acknowledged the depth of the field, particularly from Asian gymnastics powerhouses.

“Magaling talaga, maraming magagaling na gymnast diyan Japan, China, Korea, and malakas din 'yung Kazakhstan ngayon. Hindi ko sinasabi na madali siya, pero naniniwala ako na kaya talaga natin po na makakuha ng magandang resulta at magandang performance sa mga susunod na araw,” he said.

“This time I’m really also enjoying yung nangyayari sa akin right now. Even hindi siya yung magandang performance ko this time, may finals pa, may chance pa, may chance tayo na makapag-medal po, hopefully mas magiging magandang performance sa finals po.”

(They are really good gymnasts from Japan, China, Korea, and even Kazakhstan. I'm not saying that it is easy, but I believe we can get a good result and a good performance.

This time I'm really enjoying what is happening with me right now. Even if my performance was somehow not good earlier, there is still the finals, so I can get another chance, especially a chance for a medal. Hopefully, I get a good performance in the finals.)