Obiena shone despite adversities last year, and the plan moving forward is to keep getting better — and repeat that one performance in Belgium where he beat the world’s best—for Paris 2024

Ernest John Obiena has silenced all those who doubted his ability to shine on the world stage with a banner season last year-despite everything going on around him.

But the Filipino pole vaulting idol will not sit still, as he is very motivated this year to exceed the limit in time for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“Training will be difficult, because this is the year to build and push the limits and try new things to know. [Paris] 2024 what would be the best approach,” Obiena told the Inquirer.

Obiena, 27, became the first Filipino to stand on the medal podium of the World Athletics Championships with a bronze medal in the Eugene, Oregon, July 2023 meet where the best competitors in athletics come together.

Against great odds even outside the competition, Obiena cleared 5.94 meters in third place displaying the gold standard in the sport.

Olympic champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden reset the world record to 6.21 meters for the gold medal, while Chris Nilsen of the United States took silver on countback after clearing the same height as Obiena.

The feat took the Asian record holder up to world number 3 from sixth behind Duplantis and Nilsen.

But the high point of Obiena’s season may have come at the Wanda Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium, in September when he defeated Duplantis.

Defeat Duplantis

Obiena cleared 5.91 meters on her third attempt, which world No. 1 Duplantis could not beat.

“I proved what I said that I can compete with these guys and I can win,” said Obiena, who has improved since being taken care of by famous Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov at his training facility in Formia. , Italy, since 2014.

The second-generation vaulter from Tondo, Manila, will begin his 2023 campaign at the Asian Athletics Indoor Championships in Uzbekistan from February 10 to February 12 as part of his preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympic qualifiers.

Obiena said, quite a lot of championships will be held this year.

After the Asian Indoor Championships, the outdoor season comes with six to eight tournaments in the pipeline for EJ, mostly in Europe.

Obiena will defend the title of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) Games again and try to exceed his own record during the 5 to 17 May, 11-country sports in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The 2023 biennial Asian Athletics Championships, which were canceled by Hangzhou, China, in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been held from July 12 to 16 in Pattaya, Thailand.

The 6-foot-2 Obiena holds the Asian record of 5.94 meters, which he set at the 2022 International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria, last September to become the best male vaulter in Asia.

Tournament schedule

Then comes the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 27, where he will be looking to go one better after finishing bronze last year. And from Europe, Obiena returned to Asia for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8.

“This should be the main competition that I will prepare for. Ing [Paris Olympic] qualification will start July 1, although when it comes to points, every competition counts,” said Obiena.

“I hope to alleviate my equipment financing and logistics issues with your help [Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president] Mr. [Terry] Capistrano,” added Obiena, whose training is largely funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) apart from other sponsors.

Obiena continued to flourish last year despite a long-drawn dispute with the Athletics Track and Field Association of the Philippines and former president Philip Ella Juico over a disagreement in the handling of funds meant for Petrov’s salary.

The split even reached the Senate and the House of Representatives before the conflicting parties came to a settlement through the mediation of the PSC then chaired by William “Butch” Ramirez.

The distraction did not stop Obiena from achieving another level of success never before seen from a Filipino on the field.

Scoring the Wanda Diamond League in Brussels, Obiena also won the Orlen Cup, Orlen Copernicus Cup, European City of Sports, Taby Stavhoppsgala and Jump and Fly Series last year. They also dominated their events at the SEA Games held in Vietnam in the middle of the year.

“We’re getting more scientific equipment to test speed and strength to not only improve the technique, but push the boundaries of raw physical ability,” Obiena said.

EJ’s own team

Helping him out of Petrov is a team consisting of physiotherapist Francesco Viscusi, osteopath Antonio Guglietta, Carol and Jim Lafferty in nutrition and psychologist Sheryll Casuga. His father, Emerson Obiena, is also part of the team.

“Regular training is about six to eight hours, depending on the day. For competitions, it is common to rest and take active breaks after the trip. In between, I usually sleep or work on papers,” Obiena said.

Competing for his second Olympics after placing 11th at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games, Obiena can qualify for the Paris Olympics in two ways, through the entry standard or through the World Athletics rankings.

The Olympic qualification standard for men’s pole vault is 5.82 meters.

When meeting 5.82 meters or maintaining the ranking of No. 3 will be the initial goal, winning the gold medal in Paris is the ultimate goal.

“I had to get out of the others [on that day],” Obiena said.

He did it last September and will work hard to do it again in Paris. INQ

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