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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider EJ Obiena not looking too far ahead, remains non-committal for LA 2028

EJ Obiena not looking too far ahead, remains non-committal for LA 2028

Published Aug 8, 2024 06:22 am

At A Glance

  • Still coping with the heartbreaking loss in the 2024 Paris Olympics, EJ Obiena refused to look too far ahead as he pondered on what the future holds for him even as a possible return to the Los Angeles edition of the Games beckons.
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Still coping with the heartbreaking loss in the 2024 Paris Olympics, EJ Obiena refused to look too far ahead as he pondered on what the future holds for him even as a possible return to the Los Angeles edition of the Games beckons.

 

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Speaking in a virtual press conference with Filipino reporters on Wednesday, Aug. 7, Obiena, at this point, is non-committal on running it back on 2028, noting that he needs more time and space to think before making the decision.

“I understand that it’s going to be another four painstaking years that I need to focus on everything and live this life. It takes a little bit of thinking to understand that. I need to give myself time. It’s a decision that’s pretty big,” said Obiena when asked about the chances of him coming back for the 2028 Olympics.

“If I were to do that, I need to be able to look my parents in the eye that I’m probably not going to see them again for the next four years, at least. Maybe a month a year at best,” he added.

Far away from his family, Obiena did everything he could to be in his best shape to compete in the Olympics. He went through rigorous training and competed around the globe, joining circuits in Europe and in the US to improve and become the world No. 2 pole vaulter right now.

Committing for another run for the LA 2028 means Obiena would submit himself to the same road for the next four years again.

“It’s not a question of if I can compete. I know I can. But to be able to say that I know I can, what comes with that, that’s tough. That’s a long process. If I’m willing to do all of those sacrifices again and be able to live my life, that’s a long decision, a long thinking that I need to do,” said Obiena.

The 28-year-old came tantalizingly close to making it to the podium even with a nagging back injury but still fell short for the bronze medal after losing to Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis via countback despite similar 5.90m clearance.

“It’s not that I’m saying that LA is out of the picture. It’s not an easy decision to make. I think I need that to process it and hopefully be able to fully commit and say with all my gut and all my being, I’m going to be there and represent the Philippines to the best of my ability,” he explained.

The focus, for now, according to Obiena is to take things one day at a time and try to finish the season while making sure he doesn’t lose his spot in the world rankings. He is expected to continue seeing action in the Diamond League although he is taking a cautious approach on his back injury.

“We’ll take it one day at a time. One day at a time. I’m competing in a few Diamond Leagues, that’s the idea. But I said, we can kinda postpone it to know what exactly is the problem with my back. I need to address that,” he stressed.

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