Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena simply bankrupt the brand new national list (again): He talks Tokyo Olympics, Mondo Duplantis, and you may impression the love on Philippines in our exclusive cam.
EJ Obiena try smiling as he comes up towards videocall. “Sorry, was only doing my Covid attempt,” he states, “it’s bad, very which is very good news.”
It will be the most recent great news in a powerful blast of an effective information getting EJ whoever incredible indoor year has given solution to a great outside season on Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games just Thailand singlar weeks aside.
Obiena features several times broken national details and you may skyrocketed themselves towards the top of the podium more globe champion Sam Kendricks and you will Olympic gold medallist Thiago Braz.
With the Obiena place a different sort of Filipino checklist of five.85m, winning new Diving and you can Fly race into the Mossingen, Germany, one to draw exceeded his personal checklist of 5.81 he devote inside Chiari, Italy – a dot you to produced your the original Filipino so you’re able to be eligible for Tokyo 2020.
Exclusive! EJ Obiena sets views with the Philippines’ first actually Olympic gold: “That is the objective”
The fresh new Olympic postponement gave Obiena a-year to the office more complicated and you can go higher and today they are climbing steadily for the miracle 6m mark, getting himself in the reckoning toward podium during the rescheduled during the summer out of 2021.
That it pole vaulter is the pride regarding Filipino track-and-field that’s for the undoubtedly on the his goal from the Tokyo Games:
“Victory new silver, that’s all kid. Which is a rather hard purpose to get to, but that is the mark. This is exactly why I am doing all this, not to get 2nd rather than discover 3rd. so you’re able to profit it.” – EJ Obiena
Is Obiena do it however get to be the very first ever Filipino in order to winnings a keen Olympic silver medal, permanently composing his name with the Olympic lore off a nation passionate about sport.
Keep reading for this personal interviews towards Philippine eagle, out-of his Olympic aims to the Filipino food he misses (Eg new coconut drinking water, mangoes and you will Jollibbee!), exactly how Covid almost generated your stop trying and you may go homeward, and his 75-year-dated coach Vitaly Petrov who pretty sure your to save supposed.
I together with hear about just how the guy looks after their mental health away from your home, this new nearest and dearest they are generated, their wife who has got and an athlete, and also the challenging assistance the guy feels regarding Filipinos everywhere.
Exactly how large is EJ Obiena go?
5.62m (5th) during the Karlsruhe Business Interior Journey, 5.80m (1st) on ISTAF Berlin, 5.68m (1st) during the Dortmund, 5.60m (5th) during the WA interior Tour Silver for the Lievin, 5.86m (2nd) in the Orlen Glass for the Lodz, 5.80m (3rd) on Copernicus Mug, Torun.
Today he’s got his sights seriously interested in the Asian number away from 5.93, but for EJ it isn’t about the fresh new number.
“So i get this peak mission level that we need certainly to reach but meanwhile don’t assume all battle gift suggestions the newest chance for you to definitely build you to definitely bar, you know. Regarding race, I notice on the latest club that is put immediately.
“Starting race, considering the brand new listing and you will some body leaps more than you to definitely checklist, you happen to be essentially such as for example, oh s. I must diving higher than you to?
“Thus i think the best sort of psychology entering race simply that we must be the guy whom jumps more than the remainder profession. We focus on effective new meets.”
His outdoor 12 months began impressively when he cleared 5.80 to help you ideal the newest podium within the Summer, then eliminated you to definitely Olympic simple once again at the 2021 FBK Game throughout the Netherlands, where he stepped-up towards the podium trailing only Mondo, whom eliminated six.10m.