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Personal! EJ Obiena set sights into Philippines’ basic ever before Olympic silver: “That’s the objective”

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena only broke the national listing (again): The guy conversations Tokyo Olympics, Mondo Duplantis, and impact the latest love regarding Philippines within personal cam.

EJ Obiena try cheerful as he pops up into videocall. “Sorry, was only starting my personal Covid test,” he says, “it’s negative, thus that’s great news.”

Exclusive! EJ Obiena establishes landscapes toward Philippines’ basic previously Olympic gold: “That is the purpose”

It’s the most recent great news from inside the a strong stream of a good reports having EJ whoever incredible interior year gave means to fix an amazing backyard seasons into Tokyo 2020 Olympic Online game only days aside.

Obiena possess a couple of times busted federal information and you may catapulted themselves with the the top podium more than globe champ Sam Kendricks and you may Olympic gold medallist Thiago Braz.

Toward Obiena put yet another Filipino listing of 5.85m, profitable the latest Plunge and Travel competition inside the Mossingen, Germany, one draw surpassed his very own list of five.81 he set in from inside the Chiari, Italy – a mark that made him the initial Filipino in order to be eligible for Tokyo 2020.

The new Olympic postponement gave Obiena annually to the office more complicated and go higher now he’s hiking steadily towards magic 6m mark, placing himself on reckoning to your podium from the rescheduled in the summer from 2021.

That it pole vaulter is the pride off Filipino track and field that will be during the definitely in the his goal at Tokyo Games:

“Earn the brand new gold, that’s all kid. Which is a really hard objective to attain, but that’s the goal. For this reason I am performing all this, never to get second and never to acquire third. to winnings it.” – ilove ne demek EJ Obiena

Is to Obiena do so he would end up being the earliest actually Filipino so you can profit an enthusiastic Olympic silver medal, forever writing their title towards Olympic lore regarding a country excited about recreation.

Continue reading for this exclusive interview toward Philippine eagle, out of his Olympic will brand new Filipino dining the guy misses (Instance new coconut liquids, mangoes and Jollibbee!), just how Covid almost made him call it quits and you can go homeward, and his 75-year-dated advisor Vitaly Petrov exactly who confident your to save supposed.

We plus learn about just how the guy looks after his mental health away from your home, the members of the family he is made, their partner that together with a runner, together with challenging assistance the guy seems regarding Filipinos all over.

Just how high can be EJ Obiena go?

5.62m (5th) within Karlsruhe Industry Interior Trip, 5.80m (1st) in the ISTAF Berlin, 5.68m (1st) within the Dortmund, 5.60m (5th) from the WA indoor Trip Gold when you look at the Lievin, 5.86m (2nd) in the Orlen Mug in Lodz, 5.80m (3rd) in the Copernicus Mug, Torun.

Today he has his views set on the fresh new Asian record of 5.93, but for EJ its not exactly about the fresh new amounts.

“Therefore i have this top purpose top which i want to get to but at the same time not every competition gifts the window of opportunity for you to definitely build that pub, you know. Regarding race, We attract on the fresh bar which is set right now.

“Starting competition, if you think about this new checklist and you will people leaps over that list, you’re fundamentally particularly, oh s. I must diving more than one to?

“Thus i believe the best sort of therapy going into battle is just that i should be he whom leaps higher than the remainder industry. We work with winning the fresh new fits.”

Their backyard year began amazingly when he removed 5.80 so you’re able to finest the brand new podium inside the Summer, then he cleaned one to Olympic practical once again at 2021 FBK Video game on Netherlands, in which the guy stepped-up with the podium about just Mondo, whom eliminated six.10m.