Young gymnast carries Yulo’s words to heart in Dakar YOG stint

MANILA — Fueled by the wise words of double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, a teenage gymnast is looking to make the country proud at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

Hillarion Palles III, 16, is a Batang Pinoy standout who will join fellow gymnast Tchelzy Maayo in the Philippine delegation to the YOG. They have previously represented the country at the Junior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Zunyi, China last June.  

The younger Palles finished 23rd in the men’s individual all-around qualification, as he competed alongside his older brother Palarong Pambansa multi-medalist John Anthony.

“Siyempre po, nagulat po. Nag-mix emotion na po ako na nagulat. Sobrang saya. Bilang may pressure din po talaga, di po mawawala. Pero po, totally po, sobrang saya po na sa dami po ng juniors na sa Pilipinas, ako po yung napili po,” Palles told ABS-CBN News recently at the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines Gym in Intramuros. 

“Inalagaan ko po yung sarili ko. Lagi po akong basics, conditioning, therapy po. Especially po sa mga minor injury ko po, inaalagaan ko po para po hindi po masyadong lumala,” he said. 

The 16-year-old gymnast expressed gratitude for the chance to compete alongside the country’s national team standouts including double gold medalist Yulo, whose Olympic achievements have further fueled his passion for the sport. 

“Sobrang grateful po ako na nakasama ko po yung mga seniors and then yung mga women’s artistic national team na sila at Tchelzy [Maayo] po. Sobrang grateful po na nakasama ko po sila sa isang competition po, lalo na po yung Olympic champion po natin si kuya Caloy. Sobrang mas na-inspired pa po ako mag-training and mapatunayan yung sarili ko sa gymnastics po,” he added.

Palles revealed that during the continental tournament in June, he received advice from Yulo that he now carries with him in every event.

“Nung Asian Champs po, sinabihan niya po ako ng wag po akong kabahan, na gawin ko lang daw po yung gagawin ko katulad sa training. And linisan ko lang po yung performance ko po,” Palles said. 

“Yun po yung hindi po nawawala sa isip ko na sinabi niya po sa akin po,” he added.

For Palles, he’s looking forward to showing his skills and performing his best on a big stage such as the Youth Olympic Games. 

“Goal ko lang po, clean routine and then satisfied score for me po,” Palles said. 

“Ang dadalhin ko po dun ay magandang energy and be confident lang po. Focus sa sarili at gagawin ko po ang best ko sa performance ko po,” he shared. 

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are set from October 31 to November 13 in Senegal.