Exclusive! EJ Obiena set views towards Philippines’ earliest ever before Olympic silver: “This is the purpose”

Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena only bankrupt the latest federal number (again): He conversations Tokyo Olympics, Mondo Duplantis, and you may feeling the love from the Philippines within personal chat.

EJ Obiena was smiling as he appears on videocall. “Disappointed, was only starting my Covid test,” he states, “it is negative, very that’s great.”

It’s the latest great news from inside the a powerful blast of a great news having EJ whose unbelievable indoor year gave treatment for an incredible outside 12 months toward Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games only weeks away.

Obiena provides repeatedly busted federal suggestions and you can skyrocketed themselves for the the upper podium more than world winner Sam Kendricks and you can Olympic silver medallist Thiago Braz.

Towards the Obiena lay a new Filipino number of five.85m, effective the latest Dive and Fly battle within the Mossingen, Germany, you to definitely mark exceeded their own number of five.81 which he devote within the Chiari, Italy – a mark you to definitely produced him the original Filipino to help you be eligible for Tokyo 2020.

Exclusive! EJ Obiena kits views on the Philippines’ first previously Olympic gold: “That’s the goal”

The fresh Olympic postponement has given Obiena per year to focus more difficult and you will go higher nowadays they are climbing gradually to your wonders 6m mark, getting himself regarding reckoning towards podium at the rescheduled in the summertime regarding 2021.

So it pole-vaulter ‘s the satisfaction from Filipino track and field that’s in definitely regarding the their objective at Tokyo Games:

“Win brand new gold, that’s all kid. That is a very difficult objective to get to, but that is the mark. That’s why I am starting this, not to ever score second and never to track down third. to winnings it.” – EJ Obiena

Is always to Obiena get it done he’d become the basic actually ever Filipino to help you win a keen Olympic silver medal, permanently creating their name toward Olympic lore regarding a country passionate about recreation.

Read on because of it private interview into Philippine eagle, regarding his Olympic aims to this new Filipino food the guy misses (For example new coconut liquids, mangoes and you may Jollibbee!), how Covid nearly produced him stop trying and you can go home, with his 75-year-old advisor Vitaly Petrov exactly who sure your to store heading.

We together with read about just how he is in charge of his psychological state far from home, the latest friends he could be generated, his spouse having in addition to a runner, and the overwhelming assistance he feels regarding Filipinos all over.

Exactly how high is also EJ Obiena go?

5.62m (5th) within Karlsruhe Business Interior Tour, 5.80m (1st) in the ISTAF Berlin, 5.68m (1st) from inside the Dortmund, 5.60m (5th) in the WA interior Tour Silver for the Lievin, 5.86m (2nd) on Orlen Mug in Lodz, 5.80m (3rd) at Copernicus Glass pure recensioner, Torun.

Today he’s got his landscapes seriously interested in the latest Far-eastern checklist away from 5.93, but also for EJ it’s just not all about brand new wide variety.

“And so i fully grasp this height purpose height that we need certainly to achieve but meanwhile not every race presents this new chance for that create one to pub, you are sure that. In terms of race, We focus much more about the newest bar which is set today.

“Going into race, considering the brand new record and you may individuals leaps more than that record, you’re generally such as for example, oh s. I must jump greater than you to definitely?

“So i imagine an educated form of mindset going into battle is merely which i have to be he exactly who leaps greater than other occupation. I work on effective the brand new matches.”

His outdoor season began amazingly as he cleaned 5.80 to best brand new podium from inside the June, then he eliminated one to Olympic important once more during the 2021 FBK Video game from the Netherlands, in which the guy stepped-up with the podium at the rear of just Mondo, which eliminated 6.10m.