Paris Olympics-bound and Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo talks about how he prepares mentally to perform well during competitions. Occupational therapist Hazel Calawod, as well as Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion also share some of Yulo's activities that help him be in tip-top mental shape.
The Manila Times News Room presents
Carlos Yulo gets in shape physically and mentally for Paris Olympics
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The Manila Times News Room presents
Carlos Yulo gets in shape physically and mentally for Paris Olympics
Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe
Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net
Follow us:
Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook
Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram
Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter
DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion
Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital
Check out our Podcasts:
Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify
Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts
Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic
Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer
Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher
Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein
#themanilatimes
#tmtnews
#parisolympics2024
#carlosyulo
#sports
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SportsTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 (upbeat music)
00:05 - Hi there, this is Neil Masoy,
00:06 sports reporter for the "Million Times"
00:09 and in sports, we have a saying that
00:12 it's not just about physical,
00:14 it's also about mental.
00:16 As much as it's important to have a strong body,
00:21 the condition of an athlete,
00:23 it's also important to think about
00:25 how strong you can think
00:27 so that you can perform in competitions.
00:30 (speaking in foreign language)
00:34 And (speaking in foreign language)
00:39 (speaking in foreign language)
00:43 Recently, (speaking in foreign language)
01:02 and we talk about a lot of things,
01:04 but one of the major takeaways there was
01:08 how he prepares himself mentally.
01:11 (speaking in foreign language)
01:15 To be in the best mental shape possible
01:18 so that when he competes during a tournament,
01:21 he can perform well because his mind's strong.
01:26 (speaking in foreign language)
01:30 The Philippines president,
01:32 as well as (speaking in foreign language)
01:37 So both of them had insightful things
01:44 that they shared with us
01:47 when it comes to Caloy's mental preparation,
01:51 especially for this upcoming Olympics.
01:53 For more of that,
01:55 watch this interview presented by the "Million Times"
01:57 newsroom.
01:58 (upbeat music)
02:01 - In the Tokyo, for me, in the Tokyo Olympics,
02:05 he was too young,
02:06 and we didn't have a psychologist then.
02:10 For me, the mind and emotion is very, very strong.
02:14 Emotion runs like water.
02:16 You have to be strong,
02:17 even if your skills are very good,
02:20 but if you don't have a strong mind and strong emotion,
02:22 you will not make it,
02:23 especially listening to all the shouting.
02:27 Can you imagine my hands are colder than coal?
02:30 I'm so nervous.
02:31 Can you imagine how he is?
02:32 So he must be so nervous,
02:34 and that can make you slip
02:36 if you're not in your 100% good.
02:40 But now I think with all,
02:42 and I realized that,
02:44 so I brought him to a lot of championships
02:46 so that he'll get used to a lot of people cheering,
02:50 a lot of people.
02:51 So now he's getting used to it.
02:53 He goes inside and he just focuses on what he has to do,
02:56 and that's the most important.
02:58 Blacks, that's why he always puts his hood on
03:02 so he doesn't see anybody,
03:03 doesn't see anything,
03:04 and he's focusing on what he has to do.
03:07 - (speaking in foreign language)
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04:32 - Much has been said about your girlfriend.
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06:32 - You have, you won a gold in parallel bars
06:35 and then a silver in gold.
06:37 But (speaking in foreign language)
06:41 the best athletes (speaking in foreign language)
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09:23 - How do you guys work together?
09:28 (speaking in foreign language)
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10:48 - So basically, you feel confident and relaxed as a team.
10:53 (speaking in foreign language)
10:58 (speaking in foreign language)
11:13 - How do you set up when it comes to mental side of things?
11:18 (speaking in foreign language)
11:22 (speaking in foreign language)
11:28 - I'm actually not PT, I'm an occupational therapist.
11:33 (speaking in foreign language)
11:37 And I'm preparing him not only physically,
11:50 but also emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.
11:55 First, I tell him what to expect during competitions,
12:00 because if you know what to expect, like I tell him,
12:04 during competitions, the factors are,
12:07 one, there's audience.
12:09 Number two, there's too many lights
12:11 that will affect your visual system.
12:13 Number three, you also will see your competitors.
12:16 You will subconsciously, their adrenaline
12:20 will affect your adrenaline system as well,
12:23 and you will need to learn how to control
12:25 your adrenaline system, because if you don't,
12:28 you're gonna mess up your timing in gymnastics.
12:31 So I tell him what are the factors during the comps.
12:35 And then number two, almost every day,
12:38 I tell him, like, hey, you need to be undeniable.
12:42 Do you want to be undeniable?
12:44 What type of gymnast do you want to be?
12:47 I ask him so he can choose what type of gymnast
12:50 he wants to be, because if he chooses for himself,
12:53 then most likely he will be very motivated
12:56 to be that type of gymnast, and he will do his best
13:00 to reach whatever it is that he set for himself.
13:04 And then number three, I also, because he loves to pray,
13:08 as an occupational therapist,
13:10 I take that into consideration as well.
13:13 So from time to time, we also offer prayers to God
13:16 in order to streamline more his focus.
13:19 So, and I think that also added very much
13:23 to his preparations during Doha.
13:26 He did mention before he competed in the finals
13:30 that, like, I think I'm lacking in prayer.
13:36 And when I prayed, it seemed like I was more outspoken.
13:40 Before, I always had daily prayers to God,
13:44 like this and that, and I seemed to be lacking in that.
13:48 And now, when he competed in Doha,
13:51 his habits came back.
13:54 And so I said, "Ah, so that's what I'm lacking in,
13:58 because everything has been repaired,
14:00 and I'm also connected.
14:03 Because before I went to your training,
14:06 I was already praying, I was guided.
14:08 So it's you who needs to connect to him."
14:11 So then, that is also part of, you know,
14:14 his preparations, like spiritually, emotionally, psychologically.
14:18 Because technically, everyone is good at it.
14:22 What is the difference?
14:24 And sometimes, those things,
14:26 those are the things that are not seen in performance--
14:29 your spirit, your mental preparation.
14:33 Those things, that, as an occupational therapist,
14:38 really helps him.
14:41 You've mentioned that as an OT,
14:44 and of course, your relationship professionally with Sir Carlos,
14:48 what has become a common ground to establish trust?
14:52 Because it doesn't happen overnight to open up
14:56 and understand each other's psychology.
14:59 One is to really give him the time
15:05 to listen to what he wants to happen for himself.
15:11 And then just be open.
15:14 "What do you want? Just tell me.
15:16 What happened to you today?
15:18 What did you not like today?
15:20 What did you like today?
15:22 After your training today,
15:24 so that we always have briefings before your training,
15:28 this is what we're going to do.
15:30 Okay, you focus here.
15:32 After training, what do you feel?
15:35 What do you feel?
15:37 You study everything.
15:39 What did you like in your training?
15:41 What did you not like?
15:43 What do you want to clean up?
15:45 I get a lot of data on what he wants.
15:51 And based on what he wants to happen,
15:54 that's it, the next day.
15:55 Okay, this is the plan.
15:56 This is it again.
15:57 Okay, this is an upgrade.
15:59 So, listening to the athlete,
16:03 and I think it would be nice for other coaches as well,
16:09 that the athlete listens well
16:15 because they can get a lot
16:18 if they really listen well.
16:20 When it comes to your own perspective,
16:26 how is Caloy mentally prepared?
16:29 He's so motivated, I think.
16:31 Especially after he was able to get what results he kind of wanted.
16:37 But after Doha, he's so pumped.
16:40 Like, "Wow, I can do this. I can do this."
16:45 He's really scratching the surface of what he can do,
16:49 like what we said before.
16:51 And I'm pretty sure he's so excited to keep moving forward.
16:56 He's more determined in training,
16:59 even if it's hard.
17:00 That's okay.
17:01 As long as he can give what he wants in his performance
17:07 leading to the Olympics.
17:09 Coach, can you give us a picture?
17:11 For example, it's competition day.
17:14 Caloy will perform in an hour or in a few minutes, maybe.
17:18 How do you calm the nerves?
17:20 What do you do to calm him down when he performs?
17:24 Okay.
17:25 That's a good question.
17:27 Because when it's competition, it's different.
17:30 In training, you can see that when it's competition,
17:34 there are a lot of stimuli that affect the mind of the athlete.
17:39 What he sees, "Oh, this is good. Oh, this is like that.
17:43 Oh, this is..." It's the threat also.
17:46 So then I would first tell him, "We've done this.
17:50 You just need to replicate it.
17:53 Whatever you practice, that's what you need to worry about in your mind."
17:58 And then another thing that I do is to use visual imagery training on him,
18:04 which wasn't a thing before, and now it's in his system.
18:09 I put him on his iPad.
18:14 I'll show him what training he performed
18:19 so that his brain can be a movie.
18:22 So the timing, when his body follows the software in his brain,
18:29 neuroscience, I apply brain science to him.
18:32 So, "Wait, you're there, your body is resting.
18:35 Okay, it's your brain's assignment. Memorize your timing."
18:38 So that when it comes to using his body, he's ready.
18:43 The other things is I'll give him psychology techniques,
18:50 would be like--or neuroscience.
18:54 It's like, "Oh, let me see. Let me feel your heart.
18:57 Oh, your heart rate is up right now."
18:59 You do more breathing exercises to calm your nervous system down
19:03 because if your nervous system is not calm, it's going to mess up your timing.
19:08 Everything to the heart rate is monitored.
19:14 And also, his performance nutrition before he goes to the hospital is also monitored.
19:22 If we know that he still needs to eat,
19:25 because lunchtime is around lunchtime, so he'll practice.
19:30 He'll prepare whey protein right away.
19:32 "Oh, your body needs protein.
19:35 If you don't drink protein now, your brain and body will weaken."
19:39 So, he studies everything, even chemistry.
19:42 So that when he gets there, he's not weak.
19:45 His timing is just right, and his breathing is just right.
19:49 So, even the little details, when it comes to competition, he plans it.
19:57 So, basically, everything is measured and calculated?
20:01 Yeah, to the breathing.
20:05 Alright, there you go, guys.
20:07 I hope you learned something from that interview,
20:10 especially how important the mental aspect is for athletes when they're preparing for a competition,
20:21 especially for Caloy, who will compete in the Parasol Inclusive.
20:26 And that's it for now.
20:28 Again, this has been Neil Masoy, sports reporter for the Manila Times.
20:31 And see you again next time, in the next episode of the Manila Times Newsroom.
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