Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena just broke this new federal list (again): He talks Tokyo Olympics, Mondo Duplantis, and you may perception the new like in the Philippines within our exclusive talk.
EJ Obiena are smiling as he arises towards videocall. “Sorry, was only doing my personal Covid attempt,” he states, “it’s bad, therefore that is great.”
It is the most recent very good news when you look at the a stronger blast of a reports to have EJ whose incredible indoor seasons has given cure for an unbelievable outside season to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games just months out.
Obiena has a couple of times damaged federal info and you may skyrocketed themselves for the top of the podium more than business champ Sam Kendricks and you will Olympic gold medallist Thiago Braz.
Toward Obiena lay yet another Filipino list of 5.85m, successful the Diving and you will Fly race in Mossingen, Germany, you to mark surpassed his very own listing of 5.81 that he set in in the Chiari, Italy – a mark one to made him the original Filipino in order to be eligible for Tokyo 2020.
Exclusive! EJ Obiena sets sights for the Philippines’ earliest previously Olympic silver: “This is the purpose”
The brand new Olympic postponement gave Obiena annually to be effective more difficult and you may increase nowadays they are hiking gradually into secret 6m mark, placing themselves regarding the reckoning towards the podium within rescheduled during summer off 2021.
Which pole vaulter ‘s the pride of Filipino track and field vad Г¤r asianbeautyonline team which can be within the no doubt regarding the their goal within Tokyo Games:
“Win new silver, that’s all son. That’s a tremendously difficult objective to attain, but that’s the goal. That’s why I am creating all this, not to rating next and not to locate 3rd. in order to profit they.” – EJ Obiena
Is to Obiena take action he would end up being the earliest ever before Filipino in order to win an Olympic gold medal, permanently writing their label with the Olympic lore out-of a country passionate about athletics.
Read on for this personal interviews with the Philippine eagle, regarding their Olympic is designed to new Filipino dinner he misses (Such as for instance new coconut liquids, mangoes and Jollibbee!), just how Covid almost produced your stop and you will go home, along with his 75-year-dated advisor Vitaly Petrov who confident your to store heading.
I as well as discover how the guy manages their mental health far from home, brand new household members he could be generated, their spouse who’s plus a runner, additionally the daunting service he seems off Filipinos far and wide.
Just how large is also EJ Obiena wade?
5.62m (5th) during the Karlsruhe Community Indoor Journey, 5.80m (1st) from the ISTAF Berlin, 5.68m (1st) inside Dortmund, 5.60m (5th) from the WA interior Concert tour Gold inside Lievin, 5.86m (2nd) at Orlen Mug when you look at the Lodz, 5.80m (3rd) at Copernicus Cup, Torun.
Today he’s got his views intent on the fresh new Far eastern checklist out of 5.93, however for EJ it’s just not about the fresh wide variety.
“So i fully grasp this top purpose height that i should go but meanwhile not every competition merchandise the new chance of one to make one to pub, you are aware. With regards to race, I attention more on the new club that is place nowadays.
“Entering battle, considering the new list and you may someone leaps more you to definitely checklist, you may be generally eg, oh s. I want to plunge higher than you to?
“Therefore i consider an informed sort of mindset starting race simply that i must be the guy who jumps higher than the rest of the industry. We work on successful new meets.”
Their outside seasons began remarkably as he eliminated 5.80 so you can finest the fresh podium during the June, he then removed that Olympic important again during the 2021 FBK Video game throughout the Netherlands, where he stepped-up toward podium at the rear of merely Mondo, exactly who eliminated 6.10m.