Karl Eldrew Yulo reaches floor final in breakthrough senior debut at World Cup Series

A new chapter in Philippine gymnastics began on Thursday as young standout Karl Eldrew Yulo made an immediate impact in his first appearance in the senior level.

Competing in the Baku leg of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Azerbaijan, the 18-year-old Filipino secured a place in the men’s floor exercise final after delivering a composed routine during the qualification round. 

His performance earned him a score of 13.800 points, built on a 5.3 difficulty score and an execution mark of 8.500, enough for fourth place among a deep international field.

The result sends Yulo into Saturday’s final on March 7, where he will try to convert his strong debut into a podium finish.

Yulo finished ahead of Croatia’s Aurel Benovic and neutral athlete Iakubov Mukhammadzho, who both tallied 13.700 points in qualification. Japan’s Kazuki Minami and Chinese Taipei’s Tang Chia-Hung also secured their spots in the final round.

Leading the qualifiers was Kazakhstan’s Karimi Milad with a top score of 14.433, followed by neutral athlete Sharankou Yahor with 14.033, while Australia’s Jesse Moore placed third after posting 14.000.

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FINALS BOUND!

LOOK: Karl Eldrew Yulo advances to the floor exercise final after placing 4th in the qualification round in his senior debut at the 2026 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The event final is on Saturday, March 7.

Gymnastics Association of… pic.twitter.com/5AMm05bpba

— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) March 6, 2026

The Baku World Cup marks an important transition moment for Yulo, who only months ago was competing in the junior division. 

Last November, he captured two bronze medals in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships held in Manila, a performance that highlighted his potential as one of the country’s promising young gymnasts.

His appearance in the senior circuit now places him among more experienced international competitors, making his qualification to the floor exercise final a significant step early in his elite career.

Yulo’s campaign in Azerbaijan is far from over. The Filipino gymnast is scheduled to compete in three more apparatus on Friday, giving him additional opportunities to showcase his routines and possibly earn more finals appearances.

Joining him in the competition is fellow Filipino gymnast John Ivan Cruz, who is also representing the Philippines in the prestigious World Cup meet as the country continues to build depth in the sport on the global stage.

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