EJ Obiena not yet satisfied, wants to get better ahead of Paris Olympics

EJ Obiena made huge improvements over the last few weeks, which was highlighted by him clearing 5.82 meters in the the BAUHAUS-Galan leg of the Diamond League in Stockholm, Sweden last July 3.

That performance was enough for the Filipino pole vaulter to punch his ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics and book his second consecutive appearance at the quadrennial tilt.

Aside from that, the 27-year-old athletics ace has also ruled three other tournaments, including the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in May, the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge the following month, and most recently, the Asian Athletics Championships in Thailand last weekend.

At the Asian Athletics meet, Obiena cleared 5.91 meters to set a new record at the said event, shattering the previous 5.71m he also established back in the 2019 edition in Qatar.

Despite these achievements, Obiena stressed he's far from satisfied.

"I'm currently still not amazed. I think I'm capable of doing more and getting better. I wouldn't say I'm amazed with my performance but I'm happy with the progress before the Paris (Olympics)," Obiena said during a Zoom press conference on Monday night.

Obiena, currently the world no. 3, will look to improve further when he competes in the Monaco leg of the Diamond League on July 21 before he plunges into the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary on August 19.

"It's (Monaco leg) the last competition before the world championships. Hopefully, I'll get a higher podium," he added.

In the previous edition of the world championship, Obiena settled for a bronze medal with longtime rival and top-ranked Armand Duplantis of Sweden reigning supreme with a 6.21m outing. World no. 2 Chris Nilsen of USA copped the silver  after clearing 5.94m.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News