November 24, 2025
MANILA – Karl Eldrew Yulo had mixed emotions after claiming his first medal in the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships on Sunday.
Yulo bagged the bronze medal in the floor exercise final–a victory that also came at the expense of one of his friends, Arsenii Dukhno.
READ: Karl Eldrew Yulo wins floor bronze at Junior World Championships
Dukhno, who is from Russia and was coming off a gold medal win in the all-around final, was the last competitor to perform in floor. That’s why Yulo was sitting on pins and needles the entire time Dukhno was doing his routine.
“I got so nervous. I just started telling the Lord, ‘if you’re really kind, you’ll give this to me,’ but I didn’t mean it in a bad way,” Yulo told reporters after hanging on to his spot on the podium with a score of 13.733.
“When he stepped outside, I didn’t know what to feel. I don’t know if I should feel bad or good. I feel bittersweet. I don’t think of him as my enemy; he’s my opponent and also my best friend.”
READ: Yulo vs Yulo? Dad thinks siblings will face off soon
Dukhno’s routine took a hit after he landed outside of the mat, leading to a costly penalty.
“We’ve been together to talk about things while we were on the floor. I feel bad and good at the same time. Really mixed emotions,” the 17-year-old Yulo said.