Now that a slot in the Paris Olympics is already in the bag, EJ Obiena is looking to work doubly hard in a bid to become the second Filipino to win a gold medal in the Summer Games next year.
Obiena, the third best pole vaulter in the world, said he still has a lot to work on despite hitting the Olympic qualifying mark of 5.82 meters in the Stockholm Diamond League on Monday.
He said that he remains a “student of the game” as he constantly works with his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov on improving his techniques and form from his approach up to his landing.
“We continue the work as we still have lots to do. Made some rookie mistakes yesterday,” said Obiena, obviously still far from being satisfied.
“It just shows that I am still a student of the game.
Obiena has a very busy schedule ahead.
After the Stockholm joust, where he yielded the gold medal to world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden who soared with 6.05 meters, Obiena will be competing in the Meeting International de Sotteville-Les Rouen on Friday in France and the Asian Athletics Championships from 12 to 16 July in Thailand.
Then, he will return to Europe to vie in the World Athletics Championship in Hungary on 19 August while accumulating ranking points that will make him eligible to see action in the Eugene Diamond League Finals 2023 in Oregon from 16 to 17 September.
Only the world’s top six pole vaulters will be allowed to compete in the Diamond League finale.
But his major test will be in Asia.
The 27-year-old Obiena will be shooting for his first Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou from 23 September to 8 October.
He said he is looking at having a training camp in China not just to win the gold medal, but also to assert his status as the best pole vaulter in Asia.
“If the athletics competitions happen late in the Asian Games, I would love to start camp there. It’s going to be easier. We have good connections there with my friends and we’ll know where to go and where’s the best place to train,” said Obiena, who is also set to compete in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand from 17 to 26 November.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Edward Kho said they are confident that Obiena will pace himself to avoid burnout and fatigue heading into the Summer Games in the French capital next year.
After all, a victory in Paris will not just cement his status among the country’s greatest athletes but will also redeem him from a forgettable finish in the previous Summer Games in Tokyo in 2021.
“Well, I think he has matured as a top-level world athlete. I can see in his performances that he will go all out. Comparing him to a singer, he knows when to hit those high notes,” Kho said in a phone conversation with Daily Tribune.
“You can see he has the mark of a veteran. He can pace himself and it’s a good indication.”
