Carlos Yulo withdraws from 2025 SEA Games amid controversial rule change

The Philippines has suffered a significant setback in its quest to boost its gold medal tally at the upcoming 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, as gymnastics star Carlos Yulo has officially withdrawn from the competition.

Yulo’s decision to pull out of the 33rd SEA Games is fully supported by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) and its president, Cynthia Carrion. The withdrawal comes in response to a controversial new rule implemented by the host nation, which restricts male gymnasts in artistic gymnastics to competing in only one apparatus during individual events.

Under the rule, gymnasts may enter two apparatus but can qualify for finals in only one, limiting their medal opportunities.

“Carlos isn’t joining anymore. The SEA Games competition is not just for the athletes but about how many medals the country can win. Carlos wants to give his teammates a chance,” Carrion said during a recent media briefing.

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𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐒 𝐘𝐔𝐋𝐎, 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐊 𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐬𝐚 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬! #RP2SportsRadio | Walang humpay si Carlos Yulo! Kahit may wrist injury, nag-qualify siya sa Vault at Floor Exercise Finals sa 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships… pic.twitter.com/X2AduTteJN

— Radyo Pilipinas (@radyopilipinas1) October 20, 2025

With Yulo out, the Philippines will be represented by John Ivan Cruz, Juancho Miguel Besana, and Justine Ace de Leon in artistic gymnastics. The trio aims to defend the country’s gold medals in the floor exercise and vault events.

Yulo, a Filipino gymnastics icon, made a strong showing at the last SEA Games in Cambodia, capturing two golds in the individual all-around and parallel bars, along with two silvers in the team event and rings. Despite a minor wrist injury, the 25-year-old is currently competing at the 53rd World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“I’ve been having some trouble with my wrists, but I still want to compete because the love of the sport drives me. My goal is to perform beautiful, graceful gymnastics,” Yulo shared.

He also reflected on the reduced pressure following his achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, saying, “After winning Olympic medals, the pressure went down. Now, I can truly be myself on the mat.”

The 2025 SEA Games will run from December 9 to 20, hosted across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region and the provinces of Chonburi and Songkhla.

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