Exemplifying the resurgence of local gymnastics across borders, the Philippine team medalled in the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Singapore last June 15-18, 2023. Surpassing their four-medal finish in 2022 in Doha, the country finished second in the senior’s division with eight medals: three golds, two silvers, and three bronzes—next to a 13-medal performance by China.
Procuring a display of artistry, Carlos Yulo prevailed as the best performing male gymnast of the championship with five medals: gold in parallel bars, floor exercise, and vault, silver individual all-around, and bronze in horizontal bar. The World Artistic Championship veteran bagged silverware in all events except the still rings—narrowly missing podium contention and the pommel horse.
Contributing to the nation’s medal haul, female Fil-Am gymnasts Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo’s admirable performances resulted in podium finishes. Formerly the alternate in United States’ 2020 Tokyo campaign, 2023 sees Emma Malabuyo rep the Philippine flag as her floor routine garnered a silver finish behind Zhang Qingying of China.
Subsequently, Finnegan’s bronze finishes in both the women’s vault and balance beam resulted in a 50.399 point finish in the women’s individual all-around—incidentally enough to book her ticket to the Antwerp, Belgium in September. The current LSU Tiger will join Yulo and Kylee Kvamme in the largest qualifier in artistic gymnastics with a hopeful Olympic berth in sight.
