It appears Yulo had no chance.
The parting of ways between Paris-bound gymnast Carlos Yulo and his longtime coach Munehiro Kugimiya seemed inevitable.
The decorated gymnast, whose coaching change prior to the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships was widely panned by netizens as being the reason for his medal-less campaign in that competition, revealed to Dyan Castillejo in Playitright TV that the breakup was essentially a product of changing times.
“Hindi naman na niya po ako (namo-monitor), as like before na tutok na tutok po talaga. Kasi junior po e, unlike senior. Sa Japan po kasi, pag nag-senior ka, nile-let ka nilang maging independent,” explained Yulo, who added that he was pretty much left doing his own thing—particularly in practice.
“‘Yung mga pinapagawa po sa ‘kin ni Coach Mune, ‘yung mga plano po namin, like sa everyday practice namin, usually ako nalang po mag-isa gumagawa nun. Nagtitingin lang po siya and nagko-correct,” shared the soft-spoken Manileño.
In other words, Kugimiya has taken Yulo far enough. Now, it is up to the Filipino gymnast to go that last mile so to speak.
And it appears the 23-year-old will leave no stone unturned as he moves towards the 2024 Paris Olympics. For starters, Yulo is set to train in various parts of the world as part of his buildup for next year’s all-important showcase.
Having said that, Yulo also had to clarify one thing: The breakup with Coach Mune was not in any way a messy divorce. In fact, the two, at least according to the bemedaled gymnast, are still on good terms and routinely communicate.
It just so happens that Yulo is choosing to blaze his own trail now.