It’s about time Filipinos all over the world to help motivate Ernest John “EJ” Obiena by flashing the big No. 6 sign everywhere.
Obiena, who is touted to be the next Filipino athlete to make a golden miracle in the Olympics, has set the ultimate goal of clearing six meters in the men’s pole vault competition and he’s not stopping on his track.
On Saturday, the pole vault gods smiled on Filipino sensation Ernest John “EJ” Obiena after he cleared 5.91 meters which was still short of his objective but good enough to win the gold in the Diamond Series meet in Brussels.
“It´s always my goal to win, but I definitely have the magic number of 6m (six meters) on my mind. That’s what I´m training for and I really think that I’m capable of jumping that height,” said Obiena.
Making the six-meter leap means a possible medal of any color in the Paris Olympics in 2024.
One netizen posted that someone with a “spare” of P6 million should offer it to Obiena as a cash incentive. It could motivate Obiena even more and help him finance his training and competition abroad.
It may be a long way to go.
Obiena’s leap on Saturday, though, was enough to beat Tokyo Olympics gold medalist and world no. 1 Armand “Mondo” Duplantis who found himself on a day during the competition which is also known as Memorial van Damme at the Boudewijnstadion.
Duplantis sat for a few moments at the mat, with a shocked and disbelieving look after he failed to clear 5.91 meters on his third attempt.
Minutes earlier, the 26-year-old Obiena took on the same height in a prescribed 16- step approach designed by his coach Vitaly Petrov—and got it.
Obiena finished his bid with a smoothly done takeoff, and a landing that went well after his torso cleanly skimmed the bar on his way down.
After his successful leap, world no. 3 Obiena beamed and clenched his fist. Duplantis approached to congratulate him for the effort even as the latter still has one more final attempt for the day.
THIRD GOLD
“It took a lot of luck, a good day, and some excellent calls to beat Mondo today,” said Obiena, who earned his third gold in a week, in an interview with scribes covering the events unfolding in Brussels.
World no. 2 Chris Nilsen of the United States settled for third, after taking 5.71 meters on his first attempt, and missing 5.81 meters in three.
Rutger Kopelaar landed fourth after also leaping to 5.71 meters, and on his 5.61-meter effort in three during the countback.
The 22-year-old Duplantis, whose setback also had his Filipino rival turn his head from side to side in disbelief, noted that he committed technical error.
“I did a lot of things poorly technically. It’s rare for me to jump the way I did. Maybe I needed a bit of a wake-up call, “said Duplantis, who is known to be a perfectionist in his preparations.
It was Duplantis’ first defeat in what could have been a dominating season, after snaring two world titles–both indoor and outdoor–and setting two new world records along the way.
Duplantis has distinguished himself by winning a total of 18 competitions this year, 14 of them done with vaults that went over the six-meter barrier.
“I’ve got to come back next year and do something more special for the people that came out.”
“But I didn’t jump as I would have liked, for sure. I am human and I make mistakes and I definitely made some today,” remarked Duplantis.
Early this year, Duplantis won the world indoor gold in Belgrade last March and outdoor honors in Oregon last July, with world record vaults, of 6.20 and 6.21m, respectively.
As for Obiena, he earned a lot of accolades after taking the bronze medal at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with a new national and Asian record of 5.94 meters.
Obiena’s huge win drew congratulations from newly appointed Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala, who learned of Duplantis’ upset during his weekly morning show,” Power and Play.”
Early this week, Obiena took home gold medals at the St. Wendel City Jump(Aug. 31) and in the True Athletes Classic(Aug. 28) with leaps of 5.86 and 5.81 meters.
He said his effort to reach the six-meter range continues. “It’s only a matter of time and some good circumstances,” added Obiena.
For now, Obiena seeks to unseat Nilsen from the no. 2 spot. Duplantis remains at the no. 1 spot with his world ranking points unchanged at 1612.
Nilsen is still at no. 2, with his points dropping from 1435 last week to 1429. Obiena previously had 1408, and now has a tally of 1392.