With only a few days remaining before the 2024 Paris Olympics, EJ Obiena underlined the significance of improved preparation following a less-than-ideal showing in the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
After taking first place in the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Croatia and the ISTAF Indoor Berlin in Germany, the Filipino pole vaulter placed ninth in the world indoor competition held in Scotland.
In a Tuesday interview with media, Obiena acknowledged that he was fully accountable for his placing and stressed the importance of improved preparation. Given that his outdoor season ended late last year, he admitted that the indoor season had been a gamble.
“I need to be more prepared. If there’s a theme with the indoor season for me, it was a gamble. My outdoor season last year started, ended quite late. This is no excuse for my performance, and I take full responsibility in placing ninth,” he said.
Despite his belief that he may win or medal, Obiena acknowledged that sports are unpredictable and said that things did not go as planned.
“The reality of sports showed two days ago, and I was not able to showcase what I believe I could, and it’s the reality of sports,” he said. Despite this setback, he keeps his eyes on the prize—Paris 2024—and looks forward to the outdoor season.
In response to the setback, the second-ranked pole vaulter in the world stated that, all things considered, preparations for the Olympics are going according to plan.
“I think we’re hitting the right markers at the right time.”
Visa named Obiena an ambassador for Filipino athletes on Tuesday. His outdoor season is scheduled to begin in the middle of May.
