APPARENTLY to relieve the pressure, pole vaulter and Philippine Olympic medal hopeful Ernest John Obiena broke his three-week silence yesterday on his social media platforms with six days to go before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games.
“Hi everyone, I know I’ve been awfully quiet here and considering what’s up this year, it’s quite odd,” Obiena said. “Very few know that ins and outs of the past month; and in the sense of clarity and full transparency I wanted to update everyone following this journey of mine.”
The lanky athlete, who is ranked No. 2 in the world in his demanding event, disclosed that “I have been battling various physical problems since April despite my best efforts at conditioning, fitness and discipline.
“I know that this can happen to athletes training at such (high) intensity and no complaints…but why now!?!?”
He said that his condition has “meant stops and stitching training and competition together with my team as well as we could. I have undergone in past months, weeks, and days a variety of medical procedures, to hopefully give myself the best shot at the Olympic Games.”
For the record, Obiena has undergone surgeries on his anterior crucial ligament and knee while battling chronic back pain in the past.
Providing him the much-needed support are his coaching staff composed of Ukrainian head coach Vitaly Petrov, his Italian physiotherapist Francesco Viscusi, compatriot and osteopath Antonio Guglietta, nutritionist Carol Lafferty and sports psychologist Dr. Sheryll Casuga.
“Am I feeling confident with my preparation? Well, definitely not as much as I would like!!
Am I doing the best I can each day? Yes, and most definitely yes!!!” he exclaimed from his training camp at the Normandy Sports Center.
“Not what I wanted but we’re still standing and I still have a few more days to prepare and sharpen.”
Obiena shrugged off the challenges, saying: “I know these things happen. All athletes deal with such adversities. I know everything in my control and I am an optimist by nature. Can I perform at the highest level? Yes, I believe I can!
“I am a proud Filipino and that means I am resilient and have weathered far worse situations. I promise you all I will give not 99% but all 100%.”
Among those who responded with words of encouragement were weightlifter Hidylin Diaz-Naranjo, the country’s first gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, who said: “Kaya mo ‘yan EJ (Obiena’s nickname). Ilang araw na lang competition mo na. Kaya mo ‘yan.
Obiena’s German girlfriend, Caroline Joyeux, also cheered him up, saying: “We keep fighting.”
Obiena vaults into action in the qualifiers on Aug. 3 and, assuming he makes it to finals, will gun for a medal on Aug. 5, both at the Strade de France.
