EJ Obiena competes at the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany. Photo from Obiena's Instagram account
MANILA — With a change in scenery and now fully healthy, Filipino Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena is gaining steam in the season and lead up to the 20th Asian Games.
The 30-year-old has won seven golds so far in the 2026 season, leaping to a season best 5.85 meters in Spain.
For Obiena, he points his recent success to several factors including being pain free and a new training environment.
Last July, Obiena moved his training base from Formia, Italy to Athens, Greece putting an end to his partnership with longtime coach Vitaly Petrov.
"You know, unfortunately, life goes on. What that means is my training partners, they've progressed their life outside of sport. Huang Bokai from China just had his first kid... My other partner, Hussein from Saudi, just got married last year. So that's a change of, I guess, phases in life. It comes with everyone," he told ABS-CBN News in an interview on Saturday.
Obiena said not having any training partners around regularly made him realize the value of competition in elite sports.
"I always thought I could motivate myself and I could train alone. Don't get me wrong, I could. But the natural environment of sport is competition. Having Emmanouil Karaulis with me day in, day out... definitely helps push yourself a little bit further than when you're alone," he shared.
"I'm happy that the dynamic and the chemistry that we have between me and Emmanouil is pretty good. I love training with his dad," Obiena added.
The Manila native admitted there are still things he's getting used to with the new environment and training program.
"I think it's going to take a bit more for me to be fully comfortable and fully integrated. But so far, I'm enjoying it. I'm happy with the competition that it brings. I'm happy with the dynamics that I have," he said.
While it's too early to tell, Obiena shared what's different with training with Team Karaulis and Petrov.
"It's not as detailed as Vitaly, but at the same time, it's more flexible depending on how the body reacts from the previous training... You know, when I'm tired, you don't need to push it. When you're fresh, then push it," he explained.
"It's like it's a much more dynamic programming, I would say," Obiena added.
The Filipino Olympic pole vaulter said being pain-free and fully healthy is one reason why he's slowly regaining his form and becoming more consistent.
"I think I have a better preparation, better feel, healthier for sure. It's just a better me, I would say," Obiena said.
"It's a different feel. It takes a bit more time, but it's a very welcome, I would say, change for sure, because that helps me compete with a single mind, a single focus," he said.
Obiena will be competing in various competitions as part of his buildup for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan next month.
With several gold medals and consistency in jumping at least 5.8 meters, Obiena is coming in with more optimism and fire to once again bring glory to the Philippines.
"I feel sharper. I feel a lot more in control. I can feel the jumps if it's good and it's bad. So that's a big advantage. So I guess I'm as sharp as I am," he said.
"You know, it's always this latter part of the season where I think I perform my best. Unfortunately, it's a little bit late... but, you know, I'll take it rather than it not coming to me," Obiena shared.
The Filipino Olympic pole vaulter believes it's only a matter of time before he reaches greater heights once again to raise the flag high on the world stage.
"It's like I said, you know, I'm just slowly trying to get used to these freedoms, I guess, this freedom of movement again and being able to jump," he added.
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