Cynthia Carrion and the Making of an Olympic Champion

Following the journey of Olympians, we should already know by now: it takes a village to raise a champion. In the case of Filipino gymnast and two-time Olympic champion Carlos Edriel Yulo, one of the key figures instrumental in launching his gymnastics career and fulfilling his Olympic dream is Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion.

In an interview with Dyan Castillejo for ANC after clinching his second gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Yulo expressed his immense gratitude to Carrion, who has been one of his steadfast supporters and mentors since the initial years of his sporting career.

"Grabe po yung trust and yung pag-believe... May tao po talagang naniniwala sa kakayahan ng katulad ko. Kaya sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya," he said, glancing at the overjoyed GAP president by his side. "Lahat po ng obstacles, nandun si Ma'am Cynthia."

Carrion's support throughout his journey has been "phenomenal"; she's practically like a mother to him. "I'm so grateful and blessed na pinakilala siya sa akin ng Diyos at pinakilala ako ng Diyos sa kanya. Grabe yung naging experience namin... Lahat ng hardships, kasama ko siya. I'm really grateful na naniwala siya sa akin. Hanggang dulo hindi niya ako iniwan."

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Spotting a future star

Carrion recalls meeting Yulo for the first time when he was only seven years old. His grandfather took him to Rizal Memorial Sports Complex to determine if his apo's tumbling skills hinted at a future in gymnastics.

“I spotted Caloy when no one did,” Carrion recalled to Philstar in a 2019 interview. “I got Mune (coach Munehiro Kugimiya) and paid him to coach Caloy for a year until the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), then under Richie Garcia, decided to put him on the payroll. It was a struggle as no one paid attention to gymnastics.”

Carrion credits Kugimiya for teaching Yulo discipline and skill, and therapist Jumpei Konne for helping the boy cope with being away from his family. Yulo trained rigorously for six to eight hours a day, six days a week and returned to the Philippines only briefly for his birthday, Christmas, or to participate in the Philippine National Games. Carrion ensured Yulo enrolled at Teikyo University, where he is on a sports scholarship.

“Caloy was determined to succeed to give his parents a better home and his passion for the sport was incredible," the GAP president said in the same interview. "For my part, I provided the finances and international PR. Honestly and in all humility, without any one of us, there would be no gold or world recognition.” The MVP Sports Foundation has been one of Yulo's strongest supporters, said Carrion.

Who is Cynthia Carrion?

Carrion's multi-faceted career is deeply entrenched in the fields of sports and wellness as well as tourism, as can be gleaned on her LinkedIn profile. She served as Commissioner of the PSC for three years (2000 to 2003), as Assistant Secretary and Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) for a total of six years, as Executive Director of the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) for seven years (2003 to 2010), as Chief Operating Officer of the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (2009 to 2010), and as President of GAP (2011 up to present). She is also in the business of wellness and the design and construction of sporting and recreational facilities.

Carrion's interest in health and fitness started to develop in her younger years. While living in the United States, she owned a souvenir shop located right across from a European Health Spa, where she would go for her daily exercise. One day, the aerobics teacher asked her to take over a class due to an urgent call. To Carrion's surprise, the students loved her teaching. The spa's owner subsequently offered her a teaching position. She negotiated to be trained and certified in exchange for teaching for free.

As a result of this training, she won the International Olympic Committee Women and Sports award, which is awarded to one recipient per continent. Carrion claimed the award for Asia. This experience eventually led her to found the Association of Fitness Professionals of the Philippines.

Carrion became known as the personal trainer of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and several cabinet officials. During her stint at the DOT, she inspired everyone to join the exercises twice a week. "I always say that if you are in wellness and going on age 60, you will look 40 and feel 20, but if you are not, you will look 70 and feel 90. So don’t we all want to feel 20 and look 40?" she told Philstar.

Carrion continues to champion fitness and sports and promote health and wellness through different platforms. She also engages in public speaking, wellness workshops, and activities aligned with her advocacies and initiatives.