Why Carlos Yulo Isn't Competing at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand

After a landmark Olympic run in Paris, Carlos Yulo remains one of Southeast Asia’s most-watched athletes. His Southeast Asian (SEA) Games history only reinforces that status: 18 medals since 2019, a haul few have matched. So when word spread that he would sit out the 2025 edition in Thailand, the news landed with a ripple of why.

The decision comes down to rule changes introduced by Thailand, the host nation. According to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion, as reported by multiple outlets, gymnasts are now limited to competing for only one medal per individual apparatus. The individual all-around has been removed, and the team event—historically one of the Philippines’ strongest—has also been cut.

The GAP president told Rappler, “He is not going to compete, not at all. The country, Thailand, is not thinking of the athletes. They’re thinking of the medal gain that they can have.” In a separate interview with GMA News, she added, “[The SEA Games] should be a festive occasion for us and Carlos wants to give his teammates [a] chance to win in as much as only one apparatus they can win. And the saddest part is that there is no team competition, which is the most exciting and we have a big chance to win like we did in Vietnam.”

Previous SEA Games editions had already introduced restrictions. In 2023 in Cambodia, gymnasts were capped at two events, yet Carlos still won two golds and two silvers. Thailand’s format narrows that window even further, making it difficult for a multi-event gymnast to perform as he normally would.

Cynthia emphasized that Carlos’ decision is rooted in consideration for his team. She told ABS-CBN News, “I do [support his decision]. [He is] giving [a] chance to his teammates.” With the one-apparatus rule, other gymnasts now have a better shot at medals.

The Philippines’ rising stars are ready to fill the gap. Floor exercise champion Ivan Cruz, vault specialist and Preview November 2025 gymnast star Miguel Besana, and Justine Ace de Leon are expected to carry the men’s squad, while Olympian Aleah Finnegan leads the women’s team. 

Carlos’ absence from the SEA Games coincides with continued success internationally. At the recently concluded World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, he won gold on vault, further cementing his standing as one of the sport’s top competitors.

Reflecting on his focus in an interview with Olympic.com, Carlos said, “I still want the taste of competition, that is the most important thing for me right now. My goal is to perform beautiful gymnastics, to be really graceful. I want to show really good and graceful gymnastics. So I’m just really happy that I get to compete.”

He also expressed confidence in his teammates’ SEA Games campaign. As reported by One Sports, he said, “Alam kong kayang-kaya nila yun sa mga previous competition... Pero alam ko, para sa SEA Games, nag-prepare po sila talaga ng grabihan.” He added, “Sana enjoy po nila ['yung competition] pagdating nila po,” highlighting that enjoyment and safe performance matter as much as medals.

The SEA Games will run from December 9 to 20, 2025 in Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla, Thailand.