Cynthia Carrion, President of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP), is stepping in to mediate a family rift involving two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and his mother, Angelica Yulo. This intervention comes amid heightened tensions and public scrutiny during Carlos’s intense competition period at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The rift became particularly publicized after Angelica Yulo’s controversial social media post, which included the phrase “Japan pa rin talaga… Lakas!” This post, coupled with Angelica’s subsequent media interviews, has exacerbated the situation, leading to a frenzy on social media and increased stress for Carlos during a crucial time in his career.

Carrion expressed her confusion over Angelica’s decision to go public during Carlos’s Olympic endeavors, questioning why such statements were made at a time when Carlos was focusing on securing his second gold medal. “We are wondering why in his stage of winnings, they will come up with media saying things against him. Carlos is just wondering and we were wondering why? Carlos thinks that his mother wants him to lose,” Carrion explained.

Despite the turmoil, Carrion believes that Carlos’s perception might be misguided. She has been actively working to reconcile the family, urging both Carlos and Angelica to communicate and heal their fractured relationship. “I’ve been trying to talk to the mother, I’ve been trying to make her reach out to her son and I’ve been trying to talk to Carlos to reach out to his mother. I want them to be talking, I want them to be a family,” she said.

Carrion acknowledges that Carlos may need time to cool down before he is ready to mend fences. “She (Angelica) wants to be acknowledged, but you know… give him (Carlos) time… I promise you, I will do my best to make it work out because for me, family is important,” she added.

Ultimately, Carrion emphasizes that the decision to reconcile must come from Carlos’s heart. “You can’t force Carlos. It has to come from his own will and feelings. But we’re hopeful that with time, they can resolve their differences,” she concluded.

The situation underscores the complexities of balancing family dynamics with professional success, particularly in high-stress environments like the Olympics.