EJ Obiena's quest to be the best

"I want to be the best. I want to be the greatest of all time. If not in Asia, hopefully in the world. I think it's a doable thing."

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena said this in Martin Javier's 24 Oras interview after winning the Asian Games gold medal in 2023.

Obiena has always been focused on his goals — whether it is on his targets, on the field, or on his life. As he steps onto the tracks of Stade de France on August 3, the Filipino pole vaulter has one goal on his mind: an Olympic medal.

Asia's best

Obiena is back on the Olympic stage, wiser and hungrier. 

In Tokyo, Obiena finished 11th overall in the Summer Games as he ended his campaign in a dramatic fashion.

Just months later, Obiena reset the Asian record at 5.93 meters, then reset it again at 5.94 meters to claim the country's first medal in the 2022 World Championships.

Obiena then joined the 6-meter club as he jumped his first one in June 2023 and another one in the World Championships months later where he claimed silver as he finished second behind world no. 1 Mondo Duplantis.

On top of these, the Filipino pole vaulter also won gold medals in the Hanoi and Cambodia editions of the Southeast Asian Games, and won the Asian Games gold in 2023.

Through the worst

Just checking on Obiena's medals alone, one would think that his journey was a smooth sailing one.

However, it is not.

Months after Obiena's performance in Tokyo, he was involved in a dispute with his national sports association Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association regarding alleged falsification of documents and late payment to his coach, which was denied by Obiena. 

Along this time in early 2022, Obiena also underwent a knee surgery for a small meniscus tear.

On top of his injury, Obiena was facing the allegations thrown to him and at one point, he was removed from the national training pool.

He missed the Asian Indoor Championships in 2022 due to non-endorsement, but PATAFA said it did not refuse the endorsement.

After the prolonged row, the Philippine Sports Commission conducted mediation between the two parties and a settlement has been reached in March 2022.

Another allegation was thrown to him In 2023, just days after his Asian Games victory.

Obiena was accused by the wife of fellow pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, Anais, of allegedly doping, to which the Filipino pole vaulter also refuted.

Eventually, Anais apologized to EJ and the issue was settled as Obiena also asserted on being clean.

Living in Mondo's world

Despite the issues thrown to Obiena, the Filipino pole vaulter still managed to get good results in the past three seasons.

Obiena became the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the Paris Games as he cleared the entry standard of 5.82 meters in the BAUHAUS-Galan in July 2023.

""I really just want that medal," Obiena told JP Soriano in his 24 Oras report last April 23.

However, standing in Obiena's way is world no. 1 Duplantis of Sweden.

Duplantis holds the world record for pole vault at 6.24 meters.

The Swedish ace is also the reigning Olympic gold medalist and is a two-time world champion.

Obiena, however, beat Duplantis once back in 2022 when the Filipino pole vaulter ruled the Brussels leg of the Diamond League.

Still, Obiena said he will give his best in the Olympics.

"I trust that everyone is well prepared... But at the same time, I trust my abilities to perform under pressure, perform my best... I’m banking on that and I’m stepping on that field to fight for that win," said Obiena.

This he holds true until now despite revealing that he was experiencing 'physical problems' just days before the Paris Games.

"All athletes at an Olympic level deal with such adversities. I know not everything is in my control. I am an optimist by-nature. Can I perform at the highest level? YES, I BELIEVE I CAN," he said.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News