EJ Obiena ‘takes full responsibility’ for 9th place finish in World Indoors

EJ Obiena of Philippines reacts prior to an attempt during the Pole Vault Men competition at the ISTAF Athletics Meeting in Berlin, Germany, September 3, 2023. Clemens Bilan, EPA-EFE/File.

MANILA — EJ Obiena was hopeful of becoming the first Filipino to win medals in both the indoor and outdoor tournaments of the World Athletics, but that dream faltered last Sunday.

READ: EJ Obiena reflects on 9th-place finish in Glasgow tilt

The 6-foot-2 Filipino star fell to ninth place in the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow after only clearing 5.65 meters, but he said that he is not offering any excuses following this performance. 

"I need to be more prepared. This is no excuse, I take full responsibility," said Obiena, who was introduced as Visa’s newest athlete-endorser in an online press conference on Tuesday.

“I made my decision. I went into the field knowing that I could win, that is why I decided to take part, but things didn’t go the way I wanted it to go,” continued Obiena, who joined Nesthy Petecio and Carlos Yulo in the digital payment technology’s roster of athletes.

Aside from wanting to clinch a medal in the Glasgow tilt, Obiena explained that he was also optimistic that he could compete greatly, especially since he has been consistent during his training. 

“I’ve been pretty consistent with 5.80m, that’s why I took the risk when it comes to World Indoors. It just didn’t pan out. The marks that I was hitting, I’m hitting it pretty consistently and with excellence, but it is a setback, this World Indoors,” he said. 

He was also aware of the risk his participation may present. 

“There are always variables. If there's a way to go back in time and ask me if I would do it? I still would,” he said.

“But the fact of the matter is I knew going in the indoor season is gonna be tough and it’s gonna be risky. The whole team of the indoor season was a gamble,” Obiena continued, while also admitting how it affected his mental state. 

“I feel a little bit under the weather, but physically, I'm pretty healthy and injury-free. When it comes to mental health, I’m of course upset with how the competition went.”

“I wanted to win. The harsh thing there is I know that I could, and that makes it a little more painful psychologically,” he acknowledged. “Miracles do happen from time to time, but definitely not two days ago.”

Despite this, Obiena bared that he is ready to move on and focus on the bigger picture, especially of this year — the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“That was not the goal this year, the goal is Paris 2024,” said Obiena, who is already qualified to compete in the Summer Games.

“It’s still going the way we planned. We’re hitting the marks that we believe we should. Unfortunately, the human side of me showed two days ago. I was not able to showcase what I believed I could. That’s the reality of sports.”

“I’m moving on, and I’ll look forward to the outdoor season. I will prepare and focus on the main goal,” he added.

For now, he is shifting his focus to May's Indoor Athletics which is still a part of his preparation for August's Olympics. “The next competition will be outdoors in LA on May 18. That would be my next tournament,” shared Obiena.

RELATED VIDEO: