Obiena heightens Olympic buildup
‘I’m happy I was able to show something but I really wanted to go higher. I think I have shown the potential that I can do but I need to do it as often as I can.’
Daily Tribune‘I’m happy I was able to show something but I really wanted to go higher. I think I have shown the potential that I can do but I need to do it as often as I can.’
EJ Obiena is staying upbeat. Photo courtesy of EJ Obiena/IG
Pole vault star EJ Obiena shifts his focus to building confidence and reaching better marks as he prepares for next year's Paris Olympics.
After qualifying for the 2024 Summer Games on Monday, the 27-year-old sets his sights on putting up good results in his coming tournaments starting with the Meeting International de Sotteville-Les-Rouen slated on Saturday in Sotteville-Les-Rouen, France.
Obiena banners the 10-man tournament scheduled at 2 a.m. (Manila time) which also features stars like Thiago Braz of Brazil, Kurtis Marschall of Australia, Menno Vloon of The Netherlands and Saudi Arabia's Hussein Assem Al Hizam.
French pole vaulters Renaud Lavillenie, Thibaut Collet, Anthony Ammirati, Alioune Sene and Baptiste Thiery have also entered the competition sans world champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden and Americans Chris Nilsen and KC Lightfoot.
Obiena will then fly to Pattaya, Thailand for the Asian Athletics Championships set from 12 to 16 July.
Obiena has already cleared six meters in the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge at the Skansemyren Idrettspark in Bergen, Norway last month.
He earned his Olympics ticket after getting over the qualifying height of 5.82m at the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden.
"I'm happy I was able to show something but I really wanted to go higher. I think I have shown the potential that I can do but I need to do it as often as I can," Obiena said.
Included in Obiena's Olympics buildup calendar are the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September as well as a possible return to the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon from 16 to 17 September.
