It was a stunning scene for the Filipinos who saw on several streaming platforms the floor exercise routine of Carlos Yulo last Saturday.
One of the country’s gold medal hopes extinguished as Yulo could not make the top eight of the qualifiers for his pet apparatus — the floor — after a score of just 13.566.
Soon after, mixed reactions came up, with many things said.
However, for someone who saw the journey of the Olympic debutant, his personal coach Munihero Kugimaya had enough. He instead took the blame for the botched routine.
“If you want to blame someone, please direct it to the coach. If you want to say, Caloy wasted it, please say it to the coach. He is the person who has responsibility for what he did,” the Japanese mentor said, referring to himself.
“The athlete is always trying his best. If a mistake happens, it is because of his coach and I’m his coach.”
He added that through the young gymnast’s success and despite the falls, he feels proud of the 21-year-old gymnast.
“The path we have taken is not easy, but if not because of it, he is not what he is now.”
Munehiro also relayed that after what happened, he and Yulo are already plotting their next steps.
That is why he is asking the Filipino people and his legions of fans to continue supporting the world champion.
“Please support him. I fully respect the days of his tears and I promise that this experience will make him stronger,” he said.
“Do not give up until the end. Never give up and go forward, always.”
That fresh page will begin on Monday, August 2 at the Ariake Gymnastics Center as Yulo attempts to clinch a medal in the men’s vault finals.
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