Obiena eyes new personal best: 'I can jump 6.10-m' | ABS-CBN
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Obiena eyes new personal best: 'I can jump 6.10-m'
Obiena eyes new personal best: 'I can jump 6.10-m'
Camille B. Naredo,
ABS-CBN News
Published Sep 16, 2024 02:11 PM PHT
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MANILA -- Even as he recovers from a back injury that cut short his 2024 season, Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena is still setting goals for himself.
MANILA -- Even as he recovers from a back injury that cut short his 2024 season, Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena is still setting goals for himself.
The athlete on Sunday said he hopes to set a new personal best when he returns to competition, as part of his goal to be the "best athlete" ever trained by his coach, Vitaly Petrov.
The athlete on Sunday said he hopes to set a new personal best when he returns to competition, as part of his goal to be the "best athlete" ever trained by his coach, Vitaly Petrov.
"I think I can jump 6.10 (meters). Physically, I'm capable of it. I just need to hit it right," Obiena told reporters at the sidelines of his meet-and-greet at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Sunday.
"I think I can jump 6.10 (meters). Physically, I'm capable of it. I just need to hit it right," Obiena told reporters at the sidelines of his meet-and-greet at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Sunday.
Obiena's personal best is 6.00-meters -- a mark he reached at the 2023 World Championships in Hungary where he placed second to world record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden.
Obiena's personal best is 6.00-meters -- a mark he reached at the 2023 World Championships in Hungary where he placed second to world record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden.
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Only three men have ever gone past 6.10-meters before -- a list that includes the legendary Sergey Bubka of Ukraine, who was also trained by Petrov during his heyday and set a personal best of 6.15-m in 1993 -- two years before Obiena was born.
Only three men have ever gone past 6.10-meters before -- a list that includes the legendary Sergey Bubka of Ukraine, who was also trained by Petrov during his heyday and set a personal best of 6.15-m in 1993 -- two years before Obiena was born.
France's Renaud Lavillenie was the previous record holder at 6.16-m, while Duplantis owns the mark after breaching 6.26-m at the Diamond League.
France's Renaud Lavillenie was the previous record holder at 6.16-m, while Duplantis owns the mark after breaching 6.26-m at the Diamond League.
"6.15-m is something I want to achieve or more, because as I said, I really wanna be the best athlete my coach has ever trained," said Obiena.
"6.15-m is something I want to achieve or more, because as I said, I really wanna be the best athlete my coach has ever trained," said Obiena.
Petrov, who visited the Philippines with Bubka for Obiena's event, believes that his athlete is capable of reaching the mark.
Petrov, who visited the Philippines with Bubka for Obiena's event, believes that his athlete is capable of reaching the mark.
"I think 6.10-, 6.15 is possible," Petrov said. "I hope, but he must do this, he believe this. He is ready for this."
"I think 6.10-, 6.15 is possible," Petrov said. "I hope, but he must do this, he believe this. He is ready for this."
But in the meantime, Obiena is focused on his recovery. He was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his L5 vertebra, which forced him to skip the final three meets of the season. Even as he dealt with the injury, Obiena managed to clear 5.90-m in the Paris Olympics, where he finished in fourth place.
But in the meantime, Obiena is focused on his recovery. He was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his L5 vertebra, which forced him to skip the final three meets of the season. Even as he dealt with the injury, Obiena managed to clear 5.90-m in the Paris Olympics, where he finished in fourth place.
"Recovery is going well. Of course we'll know in a few weeks. We need to do the MRI scan and make sure that the bone is completely healed. Then we can push again and we can train," Obiena said.
"Recovery is going well. Of course we'll know in a few weeks. We need to do the MRI scan and make sure that the bone is completely healed. Then we can push again and we can train," Obiena said.
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