Even Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is convinced that pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is a cinch for an Olympic medal next year in Paris.
“He’s making sure he’ll get there,” said Tolentino Monday, a day after Obiena cleared 6.0 meters for the second time this year to finish with a silver medal at the world athletics championships in Budapest on Sunday.
“It’s not only skills and physicality that’s gone elite on EJ, but his focus and mental approach to his sport,” Tolentino added.
It was only Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis who stood on Obiena’s way for the gold medal in Hungary.
The Swede won a second consecutive world championships title at 6.10m with Obiena providing Duplantis a tough challenge—the Asian record holder attempted 6.05 and even 6.10, proof of his warrior-attitude on the field.
“It’s a year to go before Paris, one full year for EJ to get better and better,” Tolentino said. “He’ll have plenty of time to focus on setting the bar higher, and qualifying for Paris won’t be one of his challenges anymore, he’s in.”
Meanwhile, Obiena admitted that he fell ill two weeks ago due to Corona virus (Covid), denying him significant hours and days to practice for the prestigious event.
“Life is like a rose,” Obiena wrote in a lengthy social media post.
“A mere two weeks ago, the thorns got to me. I was sick with Covid. I lost almost two weeks of heavy training, and I started to question why I got the thorns,” he added.
A two-minute video accompanied the post, which, Obiena said, he filmed during quarantine.
“This video will not come out if I don’t (get to the) podium,” he said on the video. (Kristel Satumbaga)
