Exclusive! EJ Obiena establishes sights into the Philippines’ first previously Olympic gold: “That is the objective”

Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena simply bankrupt the newest federal number (again): He discussions Tokyo Olympics, Mondo Duplantis, and you may perception new like in the Philippines inside our personal speak.

EJ Obiena try cheerful as he pops up with the videocall. “Disappointed, was only creating my Covid test,” according to him, “it’s negative, thus that is great news.”

It’s the newest very good news during the a substantial blast of a great information to have EJ whose amazing indoor year has given way to an amazing outside year into Tokyo 2020 Olympic Video game simply days aside.

Obiena possess several times busted federal ideas and you may catapulted themselves toward top of the podium over community champion Sam Kendricks and you can Olympic gold medallist Thiago Braz.

Exclusive! EJ Obiena kits views into the Philippines’ first ever before Olympic silver: “That is the goal”

On Obiena set a different sort of Filipino listing of 5.85m, successful new Dive and you will Travel race inside Mossingen, Germany, that draw surpassed his personal record of 5.81 that he set in in the Chiari, Italy – a mark you to definitely produced him the original Filipino so you can be eligible for Tokyo 2020.

The brand new Olympic postponement gave Obiena per year to be hired much harder and go higher nowadays he is climbing continuously into secret 6m draw, putting themselves throughout the reckoning toward podium on rescheduled in the summertime away from 2021.

So it pole vaulter is the pleasure of Filipino track-and-field and that is in definitely throughout the his mission within Tokyo Games:

“Profit the gold, that’s it guy. Which is an extremely difficult purpose to attain, but that is the prospective. That’s why I’m undertaking all this, not to ever get second and not to obtain third. to earn it.” – EJ Obiena

Is always to Obiena take action he would become the first ever before Filipino in order to earn an Olympic silver medal, forever writing his term to the Olympic lore of a nation excited about athletics.

Read on for it personal interviews with the Philippine eagle, out-of his Olympic aims to the brand new Filipino restaurants he misses (Including new coconut drinking water, mangoes and you will Jollibbee!), how Covid nearly produced him stop and you will go homeward, along with his 75-year-dated coach Vitaly Petrov just who confident him to keep going.

We also discover exactly how the guy looks after his mental health away from your home, the newest household members he is produced, their girlfriend having plus an athlete, additionally the daunting support the guy feels from Filipinos far and wide.

How highest can also be EJ Obiena wade?

5.62m (5th) at the Karlsruhe World Interior Tour, 5.80m (1st) at ISTAF Berlin, 5.68m (1st) when you look at the Dortmund, 5.60m (5th) from the WA indoor Trip Silver into the Lievin, 5.86m (2nd) during the Orlen Cup inside Lodz, 5.80m (3rd) at the Copernicus Cup, Torun.

Today he’s their sights intent on this new Far-eastern checklist from 5.93, but for EJ it isn’t about new wide variety.

“And so i fully grasp this peak purpose level which i must go however, meanwhile its not all competition presents the latest window of opportunity for one to create you to definitely bar, you know. In terms of battle, I focus much more about the latest bar which is set now.

“Entering battle, considering the latest number and somebody jumps more than that number, you are generally such, oh s. I must dive more than you to definitely?

“Thus i envision an informed sort of psychology starting battle merely that i should be he just who leaps higher than the remainder profession. I focus on winning new fits.”

Their outdoor seasons began impressively as he cleared 5.80 so you can better new podium during the June, then he cleared you to Olympic fundamental again at 2021 FBK Games throughout the https://kissbrides.com/pt-pt/cubanos-mulheres/ Netherlands, in which he stepped up towards the podium about only Mondo, just who cleared six.10m.