Carlos Yulo, like any other sports hero worth his salt, has his nose to the grindstone right now in preparation for the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships slated four months from now.
Hailed by the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) Commissioner as the epitome of an outstanding athlete, Carlos has been consistently outdoing extraordinary feats from meet to meet and garnering medals from left to right.
What people don’t know is the mental preparation he does before every competition.
Read also: What's next for Carlos Yulo after winning 5 golds, 2 silvers at 2022 SEA Games
Aside from praying before each match, the artistic gymnast mentioned, “Bago po mag competition, bago din po matulog, iniisip ko kung ano na po yung gagawin ko.
"Yung routines ko po like papaulit-ulitin ko po siya hanggang sa nakatulog na po ako, like hanggang sa parang nawalan na ako ng gana kakaisip.
“Minsan nga po parang nakakasuka na din po, e, sa sobra pong pag-iisip na ganito yung gusto ko mangyari.”
He revealed that repeatedly running his routines in his mind and visualizing what he wanted to happen were all for the best, but also tiresome.
The pint-sized phenom said, “Parang paulit-ulit po siya na imaginations, ayun po yung tinatatak mo sa utak mo.
"Pag gumising ka kahit hindi ka, like parang you don’t feel well, parang nakakonekta yung utak mo pa din sa katawan mo kahit na ganun yung feeling mo.”
Carlos said he has always relied on his mental exercises because even when he was sick, his body knew what he needed to do the instance he hit the gym.
And one thing, for sure, his shining medals are proof of the power of visualization.
MENTAL TRAINING AND DISCIPLINE
According to GAP (Gymnastics Association of the Philippines) president Cynthia Carrion, Carlos' mental edge has been a talked-about subject as a determining factor whether he'd take home the Olympic golds since his rise to prominence.
Carrion said during the victory party for the Philippine national gymnastics teams on June 21, 2022, at the Heritage Hotel ballroom that it was crucial for Carlos to fortify himself mentally and emotionally.
She assured, “His nutrition is okay because they know what to eat, they’re studying nutrition, so they eat quite well.
“His skill is good, it’s only mental and emotional that he has to strengthen and for sure, I can guarantee you he’ll win the Olympic medals.”
In the same event, Carlos disclosed he's been unable to meet with his designated sports psychologist as regularly as he wanted to because of his busy schedule.
The 22-year-old dynamo said, “Di pa deep yung napag-uusapan namin masyado. Sa pressure lang naman po. Di naman din po ako nape-pressure sa mga sinasabi ng tao sa akin.
“Palagi pong nanggagaling sa akin na pine-pressure ko po yung sarili ko, di naman po masama yon. naco-control ko naman din po yung sarili ko, yung emotions ko.
"Pero hindi pa po siya ganun kadali i-control kaya nandiyan din po si Ma’am Maris [his psychologist].”
Yulo will spend a few days for vacation in Manila before returning to Tokyo and resume his build-up to the world meet scheduled October 29 to November 6, in Liverpool. England.
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