As the nation continues to celebrate Carlos Yulo’s back-to-back gold medal victories at the 2024 Paris Olympics, his coach and therapist, Hazel Calawod, is also gaining recognition. Netizens are applauding her pivotal role in helping the gymnast champion achieve the historic win.

You may have seen her photos on social media and recognized her as Carlos’ coach, who works on his biomechanics, but her contributions to sports and therapy go far beyond that!

Hazel is an Australian-licensed Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of experience in brain rehabilitation, mental health, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

She earned her degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in 2010 and further enhanced her expertise in Environmental Home Modifications and Ergonomics and Human Factors at Occupational Therapy Australia and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, respectively.

As an Elite Sports Performance Coach, she has worked with diverse clients, including UFC fighters, Under Armour athletes, and world champions in esports. Notably, she served as the Sports Mind Coach for the Bren Esports 2021 Valorant team, leading them to a Southeast Asian championship title and a spot at the Valorant Masters Berlin.

Photo: Hazel Calawod

Hazel is also the Founder of NeuroBalance Therapy, where she takes charge of a team of rehabilitation specialists providing holistic therapy services to individuals with pain and injuries, the elderly, children with disabilities, and amateur and elite athletes with a focus on optimizing human performance.

She’s even known for advocating combining several research-based therapies to suit her client’s needs and goals. In an interview with One Sports, she gave a glimpse into how she guides Carlos, emphasizing that she also focuses on his well-being apart from his biomechanics.

“Despite the physical aspect of being an athlete, a big battle within them really is how they are going to gain that momentum mentally,” she noted.

Photo: Hazel Calawod

Adding to her impressive credentials are two significant accolades: first place in the 2021 BR41N.IO global competition for artificial intelligence in the neurorehabilitation data analysis and finalist status in the Australian Embassy’s 2018 Australia Alumni Excellence Awards.

Aside from being a highly skilled Occupational Therapist, Hazel is a multi-talented individual with a passion for the arts, who enjoys dancing, painting, and singing. She also loves writing, horseback riding, and exploring nature!

Beyond her creative pursuits, she has built a successful career as a commercial model, working with renowned brands. Currently, she’s expanding her skill set by becoming a Google Developer and is an active member of the Australia Global Alumni.

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