EJ Obiena wants to move forward after series of challenges to start 2022

From a rift with his national sports association, to a knee surgery, to contracting COVID-19, Filipino pole vaulter and Olympian EJ Obiena faced a lot of challenges in the first half of 2022.

Despite all of these, Obiena went on and won medals in at least two major events: a gold in the 31st Southeast Asian Games and a bronze at the 2022 World Athletics Championship.

As he looked back, Obiena said, "It just solidified what I already knew I am capable of, which is competing with the best in the world."

"The fact is that there’s a lot of things that happened this year and I keep telling everyone who's asking me that I didn't know at the start of the year that I’m gonna be here. I didn't know if I would be able to compete, I didn't even know if I could represent the Philippines," Obiena recalled. "Although that doubt, of course, definitely played a role, maybe a blessing in disguise or a negative thing, nobody would know."

"My approach to it is just to move forward and now I'm very thankful for what has transpired."

For Obiena, he just wants to look ahead and focus on improving himself.

"Dwelling on the past that has put me in this position right now is really not productive so I really want to move ahead, look forward to what I need to do and what are the things that I can actually improve," he said.

Obiena also thanked the Commission on Audit after the agency reported that Obiena did not misuse the funding given to him by the government.

"I'm very happy that COA shared their findings in public and that’s very appreciated."

Aside from winning the bronze medal in the World Championship, Obiena on Monday also broke his personal best, national record, and Asian record after clearing 5.94 meters.

—JMB, GMA News