Boosted with momentum and financial support, Obiena dreams big for Paris 2024

MANILA, Philippines – Expect something big for Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena in next year’s Paris Olympics. 

Obiena, the first of four Filipinos who secured a spot in Paris 2024, said that momentum is on his side following his gold medal finishes in the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games.

And with said momentum, Obiena underscored his capability of making “something historic” in next year’s meet. 

“Momentum, I think I’m in a very good space, very good environment to produce something historic,” the pole vaulter told reporters Friday at a press conference at his high school alma mater Chiang Kai Shek in Manila. 

He said that last year, he aimed to take home the gold medals for both the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games. 

He also eyed for at least a bronze medal in the world championships. 

“Going in this year, we achieved that and actually got better. We got a silver medal finish in the worlds. And we jumped six meters which I also said I would do,” he said. 

“So, obviously, the self-belief that I have right now is very high,” he added. 

Obiena will be taking about two weeks off before leaving the Philippines on October 15, as he aims to have four training camps before the Paris Olympics. 

“That will mostly be Europe. But we would do a training camp as well in the US because there’s a specific place there that… we have certain equipment that we need to use,” the Olympiad said. 

Obiena on Friday received at least P10 million in donation commitments for his preparations for the Paris Olympics. 

He received a P3 million check from the Chiang Kai Shek College board of trustees. 

A few minutes later, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. committed to donate P5 million. 

The pole vaulter also got pledges from businessmen Anson Tan and Carlos Chan. 

“Maybe we don’t need to fly budget airlines this time. So we can fly like normal airlines and have a little bit more luggage and probably I can travel more with my whole team. So I would not need to travel alone,” Obiena said.