AFTER falling short of a podium finish in the 2024 Paris Olympics pole vault event, Ernest John (EJ) Obiena is now looking to inspire the future generation by inviting his great opponents to the Philippines for a tournament.
Obiena, who finished fourth overall, told the media that he plans to stage a star-studded outdoor meet in the Philippines in September, featuring some of the competitors from the Paris Games.
Photo Courtesy: EJ Obiena | Instagram
“I’m trying to host a competition to bring these guys that I competed against here today. It’s already on the calendar, it’s on September 20,” said star pole vaulter in an online Zoom press conference, on Wednesday.
A world class meet
In line with Obiena’s announcement, the meet would be registered with World Athletics, making it a legitimate event. He also plans to highlight Paris bronze medalist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece and Huang Bokai of China.
Obiena is also interested in Sweden’s world number one pole vaulter and record-breaking gold medalist Armand Duplantis. Oleg Zernikel from Germany has also been invited.
“It’s an official competition. It’s sanctioned. The surface is going to be the same with what we used here in Paris,” said Obiena, a former product of Filipino-Chinese school Chiang Kai Shek College.
“I hope Oleg will come, I think Emmanouil will come, Bokai will come. So we’ll see. I will try to get the Olympic finalists and have a really good competition in the Philippines. I think the country deserves that.”
Photo Courtesy: EJ Obiena | Instagram
Meanwhile, the Manila meeting will be place at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati. Obiena intends to hire professional European consultants to ensure that everything for the event is properly organized.
“We have a European consultant to make sure everything is up to [the World Athletics] standard. The surface that we’ll be using is the same surface here in Paris and Tokyo. Hopefully, you guys will have a world-class competition in the Philippines,” said Obiena.
Appreciate the community
Obiena may have been unsuccessful in his attempt for a medal, and onced finished 11th at the Tokyo Olympics, but the world’s number two pole vaulter is grateful for all of his support this year.
“I first want to say thank you to everyone who has followed, supported, and believed in me. 4th place is painful to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps 4th is the harshest place to be,” he said.
“I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love—the podium. I apologise for this outcome; such is life as the world of competitive sports can be exhilarating at times, and painful at others.“
Despite everything soaking in for Obiena, the anguish is undeniably difficult to bear considering his position at the end of the campaign. However, he is looking forward to bringing sports closer to Filipinos.
