HOURS after what he acknowledged as a disappointing Paris Olympic Games performance, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena announced on his social media accounts yesterday that his athletic career is far from over.
Obiena, who finished fourth in his pet event with a jump of 5.90 meters, said he wanted to stand alongside his fellow Tokyo Summer Games veteran, Carlos Edriel Yulo, the undisputed star of the national contingent after bagging two gold medals in the men’s artistic gymnastics meet.
“@c_edrielzxs (Yulo’s Instagram handle) has already made this Olympics to remember and I salute him. I am sorry I didn’t join him on the podium, but I will be back. ‘The good get up’ as they say. I have been knocked down. But I will get back up,” Obiena, 28, said, hinting he is willing to go through a new four-year grind to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Obiena said: “Fourth place is painful, to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps 4th is the harshest place to be. I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love–the podium.
“I apologize for this outcome; such is life as the world of competitive sports can be exhilarating at times, and painful at others. I have experienced both and unfortunately today I am on the other side of it!” he exclaimed.
Despite the result, he still looked at the bright side, saying: “On a positive note I am proud of what I was actually able to stitch together for this Olympics, with all the struggles that came with this year; but still it hurts to be this close to an Olympic Medal.
“As anyone can imagine the reality is still sinking in and I am processing the outcome.
“I learned a long time ago to take one day at a time, and that’s exactly what I am going to do. Thank you again for your support and standing by me. I love you all, and we all share a common love and pride for the Philippines,” he said.
He had come tantalizingly close to a podium finish, jumping 5.90 meters to finish fourth while sensational Swede Arman Duplantis retained the crown in record-breaking fashion at the La Stade France.
Tied with Emmanouil Karalis of Greece at the height of 5.90 meters, Obiena raised the bar to 5.95 meters in a bid to surge past the Greek bet and at least secure a bronze and catch up with American Sam Kendricks, who cleared the height on his first try.
After two muffed jumps at the height, the Filipino beanpole appeared to have finally cleared the height going up but grazed the cross bar with his chest going down, much to his dismay, to bow out of contention.
