Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena simply bankrupt the new national listing (again): He conversations Tokyo Olympics, Mondo Duplantis, and feeling the latest love on the Philippines inside our personal chat.
EJ Obiena try cheerful when he appears for the videocall. “Sorry, was only undertaking my personal Covid shot,” he states, “it’s bad, very that is great news.”
Personal! EJ Obiena kits sights towards Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold: “That’s the objective”
This is the latest very good news when you look at the a very good blast of a reports to have EJ whoever incredible interior year has given means to fix an amazing backyard 12 months for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games merely weeks out.
Obiena enjoys a couple of times damaged federal records and you can skyrocketed themselves on the top of podium more globe winner Sam Kendricks and you may Olympic silver medallist Thiago Braz.
On Obiena lay yet another Filipino listing of 5.85m, effective the new Jump and you can Fly battle within the Mossingen, Germany, one to draw surpassed his very own record of 5.81 he place in within the Chiari, Italy – a mark you to produced him the initial Filipino to help you be eligible for Tokyo 2020.
The newest Olympic postponement gave Obiena a year to be effective more complicated and you can increase nowadays they are climbing steadily towards the secret 6m draw, getting himself on the reckoning towards the podium from the rescheduled in the summer regarding 2021.
This pole-vaulter is the satisfaction away from Filipino track-and-field which is in the without doubt throughout the their mission in the Tokyo Games:
“Earn new silver, that’s all son. That is a tremendously hard purpose to get to, but that’s the mark. This is why I’m doing this, not to ever rating second and never to find 3rd. so you’re able to winnings they.” – imeetzu Podpora EJ Obiena
Is always to Obiena take action he’d end up being the earliest ever before Filipino in order to profit a keen Olympic gold medal, forever writing his label on Olympic lore out of a nation passionate about recreation.
Read on for this personal interviews to the Philippine eagle, from their Olympic aims to this new Filipino food he misses (For example new coconut drinking water, mangoes and you may Jollibbee!), exactly how Covid almost produced him give up and you may go back home, along with his 75-year-dated coach Vitaly Petrov who confident him to save going.
I along with learn about how he is in charge of their mental health away from your home, this new family relations he is made, his wife who has as well as an athlete, in addition to challenging service the guy seems out-of Filipinos far and wide.
Just how highest is EJ Obiena wade?
5.62m (5th) at the Karlsruhe Industry Interior Trip, 5.80m (1st) during the ISTAF Berlin, 5.68m (1st) for the Dortmund, 5.60m (5th) on WA interior Concert tour Gold inside Lievin, 5.86m (2nd) in the Orlen Mug when you look at the Lodz, 5.80m (3rd) during the Copernicus Cup, Torun.
Today they have their places seriously interested in brand new Western listing away from 5.93, but for EJ it isn’t exactly about the fresh wide variety.
“Thus i understand this top mission peak that we should get to but at the same time not every race presents new chance of one to make that bar, you are sure that. With regards to battle, I attract more on the new bar that’s set today.
“Going into race, considering the new listing and anybody jumps more than one to checklist, you may be basically such, oh s. I have to jump higher than that?
“Thus i thought a knowledgeable particular mindset entering race is just that i should be he whom leaps greater than other community. We manage effective the newest suits.”
Their backyard seasons first started remarkably when he eliminated 5.80 to help you most readily useful the fresh new podium inside the June, then cleared you to Olympic simple once again during the 2021 FBK Game on Netherlands, where he stepped-up into the podium behind only Mondo, whom cleared 6.10m.
