Winning six of eight high-level tournaments across Europe in a span of a few weeks has made Italy-based EJ Obiena into a different kind of athlete.

Obiena said the recent series of triumphs has completely altered his mindset.

"You know me. I keep saying that in every competition, I want to win gold. That really is my simple approach, and I think that's the most straightforward approach in every competition," Obiena said.
"I want to win and to be honest — it's addicting to win — and I think it's a good thing that I feel this way," added the 26-year-old world No. 3.

Though he placed third in the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, it wasn't until he failed to make the podium in Hungary that made him realize that his job wasn't over yet.

In taking the bronze in the worlds, Obiena set a new Asian record of 5.94 meters and began thinking about ending his season.

But, a failed stint in Hungary woke him up.

"The World Championships was also one of my failures in a way. The bar was at six meters and I wasn't able to do it. I knew my weakness was mental. I was gassed, I was exhausted," Obiena said.

"My coach knew it. I was trying to recollect myself. To be honest with you guys, I wanted to end my season at that. I called my psychiatrist and my physio 'I'm exhausted. I don't feel I can keep up this season. I need my break.'"

"Something snapped when I took fourth place in Hungary. Like Michael Jordan's 'it was personal' moment, I had that moment. Someone wrote something about me and I can't let that define me. I need to be better because I'm the guy who will grab every opportunity that's given to me."

That's when Obiena began going the extra mile in every event he participated in.

For eight tournaments, Obiena never placed outside the top three.

He won six out of eight meets including the Brussels Diamond League where he overtook world champion Armand "Mondo" Duplantis of Sweden.